Clark Scholars Program
Business Leader The career of A. James Clark is a true American success story. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1950 with a degree in Civil Engineering, he joined a small local contracting company that he would one day own. Over the next six decades, his vision and leadership transformed it into one of the largest privately held companies in the nation.
The Clark name is tied to many iconic places, including Nationals Park, Petco Field, the Walter Reed National Military Center, Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport, and the U.S. Institute for Peace.
Engineer, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist Mr. Clark earned numerous academic, professional, and civic honors. He served on the boards of leading universities, corporations, and community organizations, including the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, GEICO, Pepco Holdings, and Lockheed Martin.
At the core of his success was a simple belief: hard work matters. This conviction guided his career and shaped his philanthropy.
Giving Back In 1987, Mr. Clark and his family established the Clark Charitable Foundation, supporting schools, hospitals, cultural institutions, veterans groups, and community organizations. Together with his daughter Courtney, he gave generously—most often quietly—to the communities where they lived and worked.
Lasting Legacy Before his passing in 2015, Mr. Clark directed that the vast majority of his estate be spent down within 10 years. From 2016 to 2025, the expanded A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation honored this charge, investing in ways that reflected his lifelong values of integrity, humility, effort, action, and accountability.
