Dr. James C. Clark, a beloved historian and senior lecturer at UCF, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations of students and enriched Florida’s historical narrative. Since joining UCF in 1986, Clark became a cornerstone of the university’s history department, known for his engaging lectures, sharp wit, and passion for storytelling.
Throughout his nearly four decades at UCF, Clark taught thousands of students, from large introductory courses to intimate honors seminars. According to his former department chair John Sacher, “Jim was an excellent colleague and an outstanding teacher. He was passionate about the success of his students, the history department and UCF. He was a people-person who genuinely cared about others. And, he did all of the above with an unrivalled sense of humor.”
Jim’s sense of humor was legendary. Each of his colleagues has a Jim Clark story. Sira Giron, the history department’s coordinator of administrative services, recalls that on her first day at work, Jim had her call UCF’s chief financial officer. She assumed this must be something urgent only to hear Jim asking the CFO how the hot tub installation in his office was going.
Connie Lester, a colleague in the history department and the editor of the Florida Historical Quarterly, also recalls Jim’s sense of humor and compassion. “Jim Clark kidded everyone, and he expected to be kidded in return. His go-to in the department was ‘Will this make me a full professor?’ The answer was always a resounding ‘NO.’ For me, he was always coming for my job as editor of the Florida Historical Quarterly.… Jim was also extraordinarily kind, something you learned as people told you what he did for them. He encouraged young scholars and remembered retired colleagues. He sent articles to everyone and when biology caught up, he visited those in hospital. Whatever the afterlife means, I am certain that Jim Clark has been rewarded for a life well-lived with a full professorship and editorship of the Quarterly.”
Associate Instructor Alicia Duffy shared an office with Clark. She recalls, “Dr. Clark and I shared a tiny office in old Colbourn Hall for roughly five years. Jim was one of most generous people I’ve ever known. Although he was blessed with the confidence of a true extrovert, he was always willing to share the spotlight. He did not believe in academic territorialism; he encouraged others to leave their legacies, always reaching beyond their comfort zone. Personally, I know Jim valued my work and teaching abilities, and he inspired me to set big goals. Dr. Clark was an accomplished historian, a beloved storyteller and a genuine friend. I will miss him.”
As a former newspaper man, Jim was a gifted storyteller. Students praised his knack for making history interesting to them. Reflecting on his experience in Clark’s survey classes, one student celebrated him as “one of the greatest professors I ever had, he had such funny stories from his own experiences.” Another added, “Amazing history professor, his lectures were always so funny and entertaining. You could really tell he was passionate about everything he covered.”
In addition to teaching at UCF, Clark spent over 30 years in journalism, including at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Magazine. He was also a familiar face on News 6, offering political analysis with characteristic humor and insight. His articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Monthly, The Nation and the Miami Herald. His work has been honored by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, the Florida Magazine Association and the Florida Historical Society.
His face was familiar to many for both his appearances on News 6 and his work with WUCF, where he helped bring Central Florida’s history to life through his contributions to both Central Florida Roadtrip and Florida Road Trip. Clark allowed the community and future generations to see Central Florida through his eyes through his contributions to Central Florida Roadtrip and Florida Road Trip, says Jennifer Cook, executive director of WUCF.
“From the very first season of WUCF’s Central Florida Roadtrip, Dr. Clark brought history to life with energy and depth that made every story memorable,” said Cook. “Nearly a decade later, his relationship with WUCF continued through to the most recent season of Florida Road Trip, where he remained a trusted voice sharing his knowledge on the people and places that shaped our community.”
“Dr. Clark had a real talent for making Central Florida’s history come to life with wit and wisdom. This season, I learned just how far his reach extended when I met several historians who proudly said they studied under him,” said Heather Bailey, executive producer of Florida Road Trip. “His legacy will continue to shape how we understand our region’s story.”
Clark authored 11 books on Florida history, including Red Pepper and Gorgeous George: Claude Pepper’s Epic Defeat in the 1950 Democratic Primary, A History Lover’s Guide to Florida and, most recently, Lost Attractions. His work made him a popular speaker across the state. In the past few months, he served as the keynote speaker at a Tallahassee celebration of the 125th anniversary of Claude Pepper’s birth, and he had been invited to deliver the main address at the Florida Council for Social Studies. He was also a very popular lecturer for the Florida Humanities Council.
Joe Gartrell, Clark’s editor at Arcadia Publishing and The History Press, said “Jim was one of my all-time favorites. He was so funny and smart and kind…. He was also so supportive of his fellow historians and writers in Florida. He sent many writers our way and routinely checked in to see how things were coming along. We would all be in a great place if the world were full of Jim Clarks.”
Former students recall fondly the ways he mentored them. David Morton ’14MA, ’19PhD, who served as Clark’s graduate teaching assistant, remembers how he “filled any room he was in with an ever-so-rare combination of sarcasm and kindness, always ready with a hilarious wisecrack, always with a twinkle in his eye.” Clark supported him with good advice for many of his career milestones. When he published his first book, Clark gave him a custom t-shirt with Morton’s book cover on it. For Brandon Nightingale ’16, ’19MA, Clark made sure he was included in a PBS special he developed about U.S. presidents. It was a defining moment in Nightingale’s career. But what he remembers most is Clark’s “kindness, his humility, and the ways he invested in people. He stayed connected. He remembered your journey. He made sure you felt seen.”
Morton and Nightingale’s stories demonstrate Clark’s commitment to mentoring. He was always gently urging others to write more, lecture more and publish more. Thanks to his sense of humor, it never seemed pushy…and it was always sincere. He truly wanted others to succeed, and he made whomever he engaged with feel special.
Careers often follow an arc, says Jeff Moore, dean of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities, and in Jim’s case, his impact only grew with time. He never lost the spark of engagement or the joy of learning. He was always asking questions, always publishing, always teaching at the highest level.
“Jim Clark was my friend for over 30 years and a model of what you hope for in a faculty member. His depth of knowledge as a Central Florida historian was extraordinary. But what truly set Jim apart was how that knowledge was rooted in his connection to people. He was a people person in every sense of the word, and that translated beautifully into his teaching. He positively impacted everyone he met, usually with a bit of his trademark humor mixed in.”
UCF plans to honor Clark with a campus tribute, inviting his many friends on campus and in the Central Florida community to share memories and reflections. As the university community mourns his loss, it also celebrates the indelible mark he left on Florida’s historical landscape and the hearts of those who knew him.
A celebration of life is anticipated for February 2026.
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