Russell Gentry Clark

Who was Russell Gentry Clark?

Russell Gentry Clark was a United States federal judge.

Born in Oregon County, Missouri, Clark was a Lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II, from 1944 to 1946, and later received an LL.B. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1952. He was in private practice in Springfield, Missouri from 1952 to 1977.

On June 13, 1977, Clark was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by William H. Becker. Clark was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 1, 1977, and received his commission on July 5, 1977. He served as chief judge from 1980 to 1985, and assumed senior status on August 1, 1991. Clark retired completely from the bench on July 31, 2000.

Clark ordered tax increases to come up with the massive amounts of money he ordered to be spent by the Kansas City school district in the case of Missouri v. Jenkins. Starting with his order "federal judges ordered more than $2 billion in new spending by the school district to encourage desegregation."

He died in Springfield, Missouri.