Arthur R. “Art” Clark, Jr.’s philanthropy, intended to honor his father’s experience as an F&M student and graduate, has resulted in $10 million in cumulative gifts to support student scholarships and financial aid, with $2.8 million contributed this year alone. In recognition of his generosity, Clark was inducted this fall into F&M’s Kite & Key Circle, which honors F&M’s most generous philanthropists.

As a young man, Clark never tired of hearing his father tell the story about the moment Franklin & Marshall College changed the course of his life. Arthur R. Clark, Ph.D. ’34, had come to F&M to study chemistry, a path he pursued with exceptional promise. But during his sophomore year, tragedy struck: Art Sr.’s father, a minister, died unexpectedly. The loss did more than upend the Clark family’s life; it also raised concerns about their ability to pay tuition for Art Sr. to conclude his studies.

Fortunately, Clark recalls, F&M refused to let that happen. His father’s faculty rallied around the young scholar, ensuring that tuition would be covered and that he had the time, guidance and support to complete his degree. The College’s intervention would prove transformational. 

“Franklin & Marshall saw something in him; they recognized that he was gifted in chemistry, that he was the best in his class,” says Clark, remembering how his father would recount the experience. “When he lost his dad, F&M made sure the finances worked and that he was able to graduate. We owe a lot to the College — he would always say that Franklin & Marshall was the key. Without Franklin & Marshall, he wouldn't have been able to finish his degree."

“You want the students to have a chance, similar to how my father had that chance. And Franklin & Marshall College can be the conduit for that success.”

— Arthur R. “Art” Clark, Jr.

His father’s education became the foundation of an extraordinary career. After completing his undergraduate studies, he would earn graduate and doctoral degrees at The Pennsylvania State University and launch a successful career as an inventor and entrepreneur. He founded the chemical manufacturing company Foxlyn, Inc., and frequently worked with state agencies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide solutions to a variety of complex problems.

Among his innovations was Pinolene, a polymer used in agriculture to help reduce evaporation and limit the amount of chemical pesticides farmers need to apply to crops — a breakthrough that rippled across the industry.

While Clark didn’t attend F&M himself, he is a graduate of a liberal arts institution, an experience he values greatly. He credits his father’s success and support for the opportunities he received, including preparatory school and college. Following military service early in his career, he accepted an invitation from his father to join him at Foxlyn. There, he would help guide the company’s finances through decades of growth until the family sold the business in the 1990s.

Near the end of his father’s life, Clark received advice that he continues to hold dear: Take care of your family, and take care of the institutions that took care of you. Since Art Sr.’s passing in 2005, that's been a mission Clark has worked to fulfill: He has been a generous donor to Franklin & Marshall for nearly 20 years. 

Today, Clark’s philanthropy honors the life-changing support his father once received. It's that belief in access to and promise of an F&M education that's fueled his generosity.

“You want the students to have a chance, similar to how my father had that chance. And Franklin & Marshall College can be the conduit for that success,” says Clark.

“Art Clark’s generosity is extraordinary, and his devotion to ensuring that all students have the financial resources to succeed is exceptional,” said Andrew Rich, F&M’s president. “Art’s gifts represent the largest contribution to financial aid in F&M’s history. These resources will secure a brighter future for generations of F&M students who will now have the means to succeed here, just as Art’s dad did almost a century ago. My deepest thanks to Art for his visionary support of the College.” 

Now, more than 90 years after his father first stepped foot on campus, Art’s grandchild is enrolled at Franklin & Marshall and planning to major in chemistry. The family’s legacy has come full circle — a testament to gratitude and connection carried across generations.