[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RETIREMENT OF MAJOR GENERAL DRENNAN A. CLARK

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an outstanding 
individual, patriot and friend, Major General Drennan A. ``Tony'' Clark 
from my home state of Nevada. Major General Clark is retiring from the 
Nevada National Guard after more than 40 years of loyal and dedicated 
service.
  Major General Clark first joined the Nevada National Guard as a young 
photo lab technician in 1960, and eventually rose to Adjutant General, 
the highest position in the Nevada Guard--a position he held for 14 
years, a remarkably long time. It speaks volumes of the respect that 
General Clark commands in Nevada that he was re-appointed to that 
position four times, by Governors from both parties.
  During his 14 years as Adjutant General, Tony Clark led the Guard 
through many upheavals, ranging from floods, to earthquakes, to civic 
emergencies, to the war on drugs. Units of the Nevada Guard fought in 
the Persian Gulf War. Hundreds of Nevadans owe their lives to the 
timely assistance of the Guard in all manner of emergencies.
  The face of Nevada has changed dramatically since General Clark first 
assumed command--the state's population has nearly tripled in the last 
decade alone, small towns have exploded into cities, and Las Vegas has 
become an attraction to the world--and the Guard's military role has 
also shifted, from reconnaissance, to airlift, to Medevec, to tank-
busting--but through it all, Tony Clark kept the Guard constantly 
vigilant, ready and able to answer any call. General Clark has led the 
Guard so capably and for so long that it will be hard to imagine the 
Nevada Guard without him in command.
  General Clark grew up in Reno, Nevada and graduated from Bishop 
Manogue High School in 1955. He studied political science at the 
University of San Francisco, joined the Nevada Air National Guard 
shortly after graduation, and served in the Guard while attending law 
school.
  After receiving his law degree in 1964, he began a budding career as 
a lawyer. But fate had something different in mind, and in 1968, young 
Second Lieutenant Clark was called to active duty during the Pueblo 
Crisis and served as the Commander of the 6314th Supply Squadron at 
Suwon Air Base and Oson Air Base, Korea.
  He was released from active duty in 1969, and returned to Nevada and 
his career as a rising young lawyer. But a few years later, he 
sacrificed what in all probability would have been a distinguished and 
lucrative career in the legal profession to accept assignment as the 
Nevada Guard's Staff Judge Advocate, where he handled the Guard's legal 
matters, and a few years later was appointed the State Judge Advocate. 
After only a year as the State Judge Advocate, Tony Clark was appointed 
Assistant Adjutant General in 1984, and then became the acting Adjutant 
General in 1986. In 1987, he was formally appointed Adjutant General 
and held that position until his retirement last week.
  During his tenure as the Adjutant General for the state of Nevada, 
General Clark was responsible for enhancing the National Guard 
nationally and within the state. General Clark was appointed by the 
Secretary of the Air Force to the Air Reserve Forces policy committee. 
Additionally, he served on the Reserve Forces Policy Board, as chairman 
of the Advisory Board to Air National Guard Professional Military 
Educational Center, and chairman of the National Guard Bureau Executive 
Environmental Quality Board. In each of these critical and prestigious 
assignments, General Clark played a key role in enriching and 
highlighting the National Guard.
  General Clark's military awards and decorations include the 
Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal 
with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with two 
bronze oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force 
Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit 
Award with one silver oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational 
Excellence Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters, Air Reserve 
Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one 
bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service 
Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Air Force Overseas 
Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver and 
three bronze oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one 
silver hourglass device, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one 
bronze star, and many others.
  Yet in spite of his long list of accomplishments and the many hours 
he spent working to improve the Guard and ensure the safety of Nevada, 
Tony Clark never lost sight of the things that are truly important in 
life--his wife Andrea, his six children, and his many friends.
  Many years ago, General Clark sacrificed a lucrative career as a 
lawyer to serve the people of his state and his country, and we are all 
better for his choice. And although he retired from the Guard last week 
and could have done many things with his career, Tony Clark chose to 
remain in public service, as Nevada's Solicitor General, where he will 
continue to serve the people of Nevada.
  Mr. President, on behalf of myself and all of Nevada, I want to thank 
Tony Clark for his long years of sacrifice and service in the Nevada 
National Guard, and to wish him the best in his new career.

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