Barzilla W. Clark

{{Short description|American politician (1880–1943)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Barzilla Clark | image = Barzilla W. Clark (Idaho Governor).jpg | caption = ''Idaho Falls Post-Register'', 1943. | order = 16th | office = Governor of Idaho | term_start = January 4, 1937 | term_end = January 2, 1939 | lieutenant = Charles C. Gossett | predecessor = C. Ben Ross | successor = C. A. Bottolfsen | office1 = Mayor of Idaho Falls | term_start1 = 1926 | term_end1 = 1936 | term2 = 1913–1915 | birth_name = Barzilla Worth Clark | birth_date = {{birth date|1880|12|22|mf=y}} | birth_place = Hendricks County, Indiana, US | death_date = {{death date and age|1943|9|21|1880|12|22}} | death_place = Idaho Falls, Idaho, US | resting_place = Rose Hill Cemetery,<br>Idaho Falls, Idaho, US | spouse = Ethel Salome Peck Clark<br>(m. 1905) | children = 4 | profession = Civil engineer | party = Democratic | footnotes = }} '''Barzilla Worth Clark''' (December 22, 1880 – September 21, 1943) was an American politician from Idaho. He served as the 16th governor of Idaho {{nowrap|(1937–1939),}} mayor of Idaho Falls,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Rett |date=May 30, 2022 |title=How an Idaho Falls Democrat became the state's 16th governor and started a political dynasty |url=https://www.eastidahonews.com/2022/05/how-an-idaho-falls-democrat-became-the-states-16th-governor-and-started-a-political-dynasty/ |access-date=July 6, 2025 |website=East Idaho News |language=en-US}}</ref> and was a member of the Idaho Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/clark1.html|title=The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Clark, A to B}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Clark was born in Hadley, Indiana, the son of Eunice (Hadley) and Joseph Addison Clark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/families/11365.html|title = The Political Graveyard: Clark family of Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho}}</ref> Clark made the journey to eastern Idaho by narrow-gauge railroad in 1885 with his family to Eagle Rock (now {{nowrap|Idaho Falls).}} He attended Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana, but left school due to a lung injury during track and field practice.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barzilla W. Clark|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_idaho/col2-content/main-content-list/title_clark_barzilla.html|publisher=National Governors Association|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>

== Career == After leaving school, Clark returned to Idaho and engaged in farming, mining, and cattle raising. On October 26, 1905, he married Ethel Salome Peck,<ref>{{cite web|title=Barzilla W. Clark|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/clark1.html|publisher=The Political Graveyard|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref> and they had four children.

Clark became a licensed engineer in 1905 and worked as a civil engineer. His reservoir on the Blackfoot River was purchased by the government and his plan for impounding Lost River was merged into Mackay Dam.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barzilla W. Clark|url=http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Manuscripts/mg022.htm|publisher=University of Idaho Library|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref> After two terms as councilman, he served as mayor of Idaho Falls from 1913 to 1915 and again from 1926 to 1936. During this term, the city built the Municipal Hydroelectric Plant No. 1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barzilla W. Clark|url=http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Manuscripts/mg022.htm|publisher=University of Idaho Library|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>

Clark's interest turned to Idaho mines until he was again elected mayor of Idaho Falls in 1927 and served until his inauguration as governor on January 4, 1937.<ref name=cbigv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qPEUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6864%2C2719611 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Clark becomes Idaho governor |date=November 7, 1936 |page=3 }}</ref><ref name=irevsr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9v1VAAAAIBAJ&pg=6714%2C733473 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Idaho revamps state regime |agency=Associated Press |date=January 3, 1937 |page=5 }}</ref><ref name=jsplmn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yh5WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6690%2C3057776 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Barzilla Clark just plain man |agency=Associated Press |date=April 25, 1937 |page=11 }}</ref> During his two-year term, a state tuberculosis hospital was authorized, a judicious pardon and parole system was installed, and junior college districts were created.

Clark lost the Democratic primary for a second term to his predecessor, C. Ben Ross,<ref name=lndsen>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MPIUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6333%2C2946356 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Loyal New Deal senator loses primary race |date=August 11, 1938 |page=1 }}</ref> who ran for United States Senate in 1936 against longtime incumbent William Borah. Ross lost the general election in 1938 to C. A. Bottolfsen; Clark left office on January 2, 1939, and returned to Idaho Falls and his private interests. He chose not to run in 1940 to reclaim the office,<ref name=nttrn >{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nW5WAAAAIBAJ&pg=6590%2C3298151 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Barzilla Clark is not to run |date=April 11, 1940 |page=10}}</ref> which was won by his younger brother Chase Clark (1883–1966). Chase was the father-in-law of Frank Church (1924–84), a four-term U.S. Senator (1957–81) and presidential candidate in 1976. In turn, Bottolfsen defeated Chase in 1942.

==Death== Clark died of complications of lung cancer at age 62 in Idaho Falls {{nowrap|in 1943;<ref name=xgvclscc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=grJeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5575%2C4968478 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Ex-Governor Clark succumbs |agency=Associated Press |date=September 22, 1943 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=rtmem>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hbJeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2675%2C5184848 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Regard to memory of ex-Governor B. Clark paid at Idaho Falls |agency=Associated Press |date=September 25, 1943 |page=8}}</ref>}} he is interred at Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Rett |date=July 5, 2022 |title=The story of Idaho's 18th governor and the political statement that denied him a second term |url=https://www.eastidahonews.com/2022/07/the-story-of-idahos-18th-governor-and-the-political-statement-that-denied-him-a-second-term/ |access-date=July 6, 2025 |website=East Idaho News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also== * List of mayors of Idaho Falls

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Manuscripts/mg022.htm University of Idaho Library] – Barzilla Clark (1885–1943), papers 1937–1938 *[http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_idaho/col2-content/main-content-list/title_clark_barzilla.html National Governors Association] *[http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1938/25 ''Gem of the Mountains'', UI annual: 1938] *[http://sfcompanion.blogspot.com/2014/12/civil-engineer-idaho-falls-mayor-and.html ''South Fork Companion:'' Barzilla Clark] *{{Find a Grave|8708416}} {{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{succession box |title=Democratic Party nominee, Governor of Idaho |before=C. Ben Ross |after=C. Ben Ross |years=1936 (won) }} {{s-off}} {{succession box | before= C. Ben Ross | title= Governor of Idaho | years= January 4, 1937 – January 2, 1939 | after= C. A. Bottolfsen }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Barzilla W.}} Category:1880 births Category:1943 deaths Category:20th-century mayors of places in Idaho Category:Mayors of places in Idaho Category:Democratic Party governors of Idaho Category:People from Idaho Falls, Idaho Category:People from Bonneville County, Idaho Category:People from Hendricks County, Indiana Category:American civil engineers Category:Engineers from Idaho Category:20th-century Idaho politicians Category:Methodists from Idaho Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Idaho