Marcus Sallee Clark

Marcus Sallee Clark was born at Moberly, Missouri, on November 25, 1869, the son of Frank Benton and Leila Sallee Clark. He had little formal schooling in Missouri and came to Texas as a young man. He found his way into the railroad business, and through steady application he became known as one of the best-informed men in the Southwest on the iron and steel industry. For about 15 years he was the Southern sales manager of the Oxweld Acetylene Company of New York, and after retiring he continued with the company as an advisor. He also served several years on the Houston public school board.

After receiving his degrees in Gray Lodge he was immediately appointed Junior Steward, and he served straight up the line to the East. He holds a record no other Brother has matched: he is the only Master of Gray Lodge to serve two full terms. A. S. Richardson and W. H. Crank each served a year and a half, but only because of the lodge’s founding and a change in the Masonic calendar. Brother Clark served two complete years.

His first term, 1902–1903. He was installed in 1902 by District Deputy Grand Master W. T. Palfrey, with Past Master Frank W. Campbell as Marshal. That August the lodge printed its first roster, 250 copies listing every member with his address and the date he joined, a publication that became annual. In October the lodge set aside 25 cents a month from each member’s dues for its Charity Fund. When member A. A. Forbes died in December, Worshipful Master Clark personally accompanied the body to Brenham for Masonic burial. The year also brought hard news: 1902 was the last year the Grand Lodge of Texas met in Houston, and in February 1903 the old Grand Lodge Temple, Gray’s home for more than 30 years, was sold, leaving the lodge to find new quarters.

His second term, 1904–1905. When the 1904 election ran into difficulty with the Wardens, the lodge called Brother Clark back to the East, with C. T. McIntyre and Andral Vann as his Wardens, both of whom would follow him as Master. His second year saw the oil boom at Humble fill Houston with newcomers, and on April 1, 1905, Gray and Holland Lodges laid the cornerstone of the new Masonic Temple at Main and McKinney, the lodge’s home for the next two decades.

He was a Scottish Rite Mason. He died on July 22, 1927, and was laid to rest with Masonic honors by Gray Lodge in Forest Park Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Leila Land and Mrs. Velma Dodge.