Oldster Parks Bike 'N' Walks

By MURIEL SHUPE

Deseret News Staff Writer

FARMINGTON -- If you're 101 and can't ride your bicycle anymore, you don't worry -- you walk to work every morning. This is the same philosophy that has kept Amasa L. Clark younger that the advanced age he reached Monday.

Mr. Clark, who is the president of the Davis County Bank in Farmington, still spends a good share of each day at his desk and doesn't "have time to be bored."

Mr. Clark rode a bicycle to work until he was 99, but had to give that up after an eye operation forced him to wear bifocals. They make things "kind of deceiving."

Known to friends and neighbors as "Bishop Clark," Mr. Clark was born June 6, 1865, in Farmington, son of Ezra T. and Mary Stevenson Clark.

Among his 118 living descendants are two sons and a daughter. They are Sterling Clark, Burley, Idaho; Dr. Dale Clark, Washington, D.C., and Mrs Nell Clark's Partridge, Montclair, N.J. 

Another son, Herald R. Clark, prominent Brigham Young University educator and Provo cultural leader, died May 24 at age 75.

Mr. Clark has worked in the bank for two terms, Davis County Board of Education for 20 years, mayor for two terms, Davis County Board of Education treasurer 16 years, and was bishop of Farmington Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-day Saints for 15 years.

Mr. Clark remembers shaking hands with all the Church presidents, except the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Already a holder of a Silver Beaver award, The Boy Scout's highest honor at the council level, Mr. Clark was recently awarded a "100 years in the service of Scouting" award.

He showed a little vanity about his picture being taken. "I don't take a very good picture. You know, I was born in the year Abe Lincoln was 65. I guess I inherited a few of his wrinkles," he chuckles. 

[photograph of man]

[caption] "Mr. Farmington," Amasa L. Clark, interrupts daily schedule to read birthday congratulations.