Sheriff Gary Clark

7-13-59 - 2-2-07

On Friday Feb.2nd 2007, Caldwell County lost a true Hero. Sheriff Gary M.Clark passed away from complications due to cancer. Sheriff Clark was a true inspiration to all who knew him, he touched so many lives even those who never knew him. Sheriff Clark was the type of man that you could trust and believe in, if he told  you something it was the truth, if he helped you with something he never expected something in return. Sheriff Clark was a man of his word, always working to help his county,the citizens & his staff. Sheriff Clark was  always there for those who needed him, never asking why,but what can I do. Sheriff Clark will be missed more than words can express, and even though he is gone, Sheriff Clark still lives in those who truely knew him.

On Friday Feb. 2nd 2007 we the citizens of  Caldwell Co. lost  our Sheriff Gary Clark to complications of cancer and I lost a true close friend. I have known Gary Clark for over 25 years,but in the past 10 we had become close to each other. During his 1st election for Sheriff, I helped when I could with his campaign, but I had the honor of this past election to work almost everyday for my friend. Harvey Clark,Whitey McCall, Jack Martin & I had a great time helping Gary get re-elected and it will always be a memory I will not forget. Something I will miss the most is dropping by the Sheriff's office and talking with Gary, unless he was in a meeting he would always have time to talk to me, or sometimes Gary would call me if I had not been by to see him, those are some of the things I will miss about the friendship I had with Gary. As long as I have the memories of my friend, his life will live on through them, I am so glad I got to see Gary before he passed away, but one thing I will never forget him telling me, "the reason we are  friends is because we are like the elephant, we never forget who we are or where we came from or what we mean to each other" So to my friend Gary M.Clark , GOD speed my FRIEND & REST IN PEACE.

By

Gary Whisnant

Feb.3rd 2007

Things people said about Sheriff Clark at his funeral on 2-6-07.

Sheriff Clark was a Republican & proud of it.........

Sheriff Clark was mischief as a teen, he once blew up a toilet in high school with an M-80.......

I never met the man,but by all the people here today he was well loved.....

Sheriff Clark loved his family,friends, department and his community......

Sheriff Clark was a man's man.......

Sheriff Clark is looking down from heaven, saying you people are crazy being out on the coldest day of the year......

Even while sick, Gary was determined to win and he did.....

Sheriff Clark will always be the Sheriff, he was never defeated......

Caldwell Unit 100 is 10-42........

Caldwell County Sheriff Gary Clark was laid to rest today. From the service at the church to the grave site service every detail was very professional. People began arriving early Tuesday nearly 2 hours before the service was to begin, the church was packed by 10:00 am with only standing room left. The speakers motivated people in to the real life of Sheriff Clark and those who really knew Gary agreed. The Caldwell County Honor Guard did an exceptional job at every detail they performed for their leader. The funeral was one of the largest Caldwell County has seen in decades,the funeral procession was several miles long and the people along the route paying tribute to Sheriff Clark was very emotional  and heart felt warming. From the bag pipe player playing Amazing Grace  to the 21 gun salute, Sheriff Gary Clark received the funeral he deserved. Sheriff Gary Clark will be missed, but his legacy will live on forever.

Some of the photo's are courtesy of WSOC-TV

Members of the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office command staff carrying Sheriff Clark's casket from the church.

Large American flag hovering over hwy 18 at entrance to Blue Ridge Gardens, in honor of Sheriff Gary Clark.