Barzilla W. Clark

Barzilla Worth Clark (born December 22, 1880 in Hendricks County , Indiana , † September 21, 1943 in Idaho Falls , Idaho ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Idaho from 1937 to 1939 .

Early years and political advancement

Clark came to Idaho with his parents as early as 1885. There he attended public schools in Idaho Falls. He then returned to Indiana to continue his education at a high school and the Rose Polytechnic Institute . For health reasons he had to drop out of this course. He then returned to Idaho, where he became an irrigation engineer in 1905. He was involved in several irrigation projects in the Idaho Falls area. Barzilla Clark became a member of the Democratic Party . From 1908 to 1912 he served on the Idaho Falls parish council and from 1913 to 1915 he was mayor of that city. He was to hold this office again between 1926 and 1936.

Governor of Idaho

In 1936, Barzilla Clark was elected as the new governor of his state. He took office on January 4, 1937. During his two-year tenure, a new pardon system was introduced in Idaho, several new schools were created, a hospital to cure tuberculosis sufferers was built, and the Department of Public Welfare was reorganized. In addition, new fishing and hunting laws emerged. Divorce law was revised and the drug trade was regulated by law.

In 1938, Clark missed re-election and was forced to leave office on January 2, 1939. Then he withdrew from politics. Ex-Governor Clark died in September 1943 and was buried in Idaho Falls. He had four children with his wife, Ethel Peck. His brother Chase was also governor of Idaho between 1941 and 1943.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Barzilla Clark in the National Governors Association (English)
• Barzilla W. Clark in the database of Find a Grave (English)