Civil War Trust Honors Gettysburg Superintendent Ed Clark

From right to left: Civil War Trust president James Lighthizer with Superintendent Ed W. Clark with sons Reid and Ben, receives the National Park Service Legacy Award. 

(Bruce Guthrie, Civil War Trust.)

 

Date: March 19, 2014
Contact: Katie Lawhon, [phone], ext. 3121

On March 14, the Civil War Trust recognized the tireless efforts and dedication of Gettysburg National Military Park superintendent Ed W. Clark at an evening reception in Winchester, Va. To symbolize the lasting impact that his leadership will have on the battlefields under his jurisdiction, Clark's award included a plaque for his leadership in support of park preservation.

"The National Park Service is charged with protecting, preserving and interpreting many of the most significant sites — environmentally, culturally and historically speaking — in our country," Civil War Trust president Jim Lighthizer said. "It is a daunting task, but one made possible through the vigilance and dedication of a very special group of men and women. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of working with many fine individuals in the ongoing fight for the future of our nation's Civil War battlefields. But few have left a deeper imprint than Ed Clark."

Clark became superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site this February. The Roanoke, Va., native has served in a variety of positions involving resource management, including manager of the Green Springs National Heritage Landmark District near Charlottesville, Va., and national coordinator for the Heritage Area Program in the NPS Washington office.

While at Manassas NBP, Clark worked closely with the Trust on several key initiatives, including the transfer of inholding properties from the nonprofit organization to the park and the preservation of additional land at the Deep Cut on the Second Manassas Battlefield. Further, Clark was instrumental in shaping service-wide Civil War sesquicentennial commemorative efforts and devoted considerable energy to increasing community involvement with the park.

Gettysburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves and protects the resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg and the Soldiers' National Cemetery, and provides an understanding of the events that occurred there within the context of American history. Information is available at www.nps.gov/gett.