John L. Clarke was born and reared in American Fork, Utah. He attended Brigham Young University where he earned his bachelor's degree and then, in 1932, his master's degree in Political Science. He taught in various high schools around Utah and Wyoming until 1939 when he became the Director of L.D.S. Institute of Religion at Gila College in Thatcher, AZ. Later, he was Institute Director at Dixie College in St. George, Utah. In 1944 he became president of Ricks College at the beginning of an era of phenomenal grown and change. During his administration, which lasted until 1977. Ricks College grew from 200 students to over 5,000. The buildings on campus increased from just 2 to 24. In the 1950's when the future of the college was uncertain, he led with vision and determination. During his administration, Ricks changed from a 2-year junior college to a 4-year college in 1948, only to change back to a 2-year institution in 1955. After serving Ricks for 27 years, he went on to serve in the presidency of the Rexburg Stake, as a mission president in the Boston Massachusetts Mission, as Stake Patriarch, and in many other Church positions
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Groundbreaking: April 1972 Completed: August 1975 Facilities: 1st Floor-Nursing and Health Science faculty offices and classrooms with a Student Health Center on the north end of the building. 2nd Floor-Child Development area and an auditorium. 3rd Floor-Clothing and sewing labs, food laboratories, and a dining room. 1976: Dedicated and named by Elder Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Council of the Twelve. 1979: Built design laboratory. Rooms in the lab simulate a home where students do actual interior design work. 1987: Lab rooms for experimentation studies remodeled. 1991: Sewing classrooms remodeled. 1993-94: Student Health Center expanded. 1995: Child development play yard on east side of building |
