The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: Louis Roosevelt Clark
09.21.2018 | Football, Longhorn Sports Properties / Learfield
The retired Army Colonel will be honored during the coin toss when Texas Football hosts TCU.
Louis Roosevelt Clark graduated from Austin's Anderson High School, pursued and achieved his bachelor's degree at Prairie View A&M in 1956 and then, despite his education, struggled to find suitable career options.
"So, I volunteered for service," Clark said of his decision to enlist in the Army. "I had a sergeant who took me under his wing. He told me, 'You're educated. You need to be in the officer category.'"
Clark graduated third in the school for enlisted soldiers working toward the non- commissioned officer track, and he was eventually recommended to a commander for advancement.
Clark retired as a colonel in 1987, following more than 30 years of service that saw him serve as a commander in Vietnam, oversee the NATO Special Weapons Command in Germany, and enter the Artillery Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
"It was rewarding," Clark said. "The Army gave me a lot of adventure, and I realized opportunities to travel I couldn't do on my own. I have friendships that have lasted until this day."
Early in his Army career, Clark volunteered for the Airborne Division, and following jump training he had the opportunity to go to the Special Forces.
"I had a strong will to succeed at whatever it was. I knew I could finish the training, no problem," Clark said. "There were only three blacks, and only one finished -- and that was me."
Clark served in Germany, Vietnam and Korea in various commanding roles. He was selected to study in the Armed Forces Staff College and Army War College, which provided his advanced training in special weapons, weapons systems and how to use them.
He retired from the service in 1987, but remains active. He teaches Sunday school at Fort Bliss in El Paso, which he now calls home, and earlier this year was inducted into the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
"I watched the growth of black men in the service. When I first became an officer, my (late) wife (Christa) did not want to take part in any of the social events or coffees with the other officers' wives. She was the only black face there. When I became a commander, she was in charge of those coffees and planning the activities," Clark said.
"I've seen the growth of black men through them standing in the front of units, in charge of the units, from seeing one face to many. That satisfies me."
Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. Every year, more than $1 billion of lottery revenue goes to good causes like public education and veterans' assistance programs.
Beginning with the first veterans' dedicated scratch ticket game in 2009, the Texas Lottery has now contributed over $100 million to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance.
Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $28 billion in revenue for the state of Texas. Through strict adherence to their vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that this support continues.
