About

William (Bill) Clark (AHS 1925 -1929) was one of the best and most versatile athletes of his time at AHS. He played and lettered in 4 different sports football, baseball, track and hockey. He earned an amazing 15 varsity letters.

He was voted outstanding student-athlete by his class. The 1929 yearbook said “We think of “Bill” as being a fellow who will surely meet with success”

He was outstanding while at AHS and continued with great success at Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College. After college he settled in on teaching and coaching career at Phillips Exeter Academy. Even while at PEA he was a guest at hockey banquets and helped the Amesbury hockey team secure ice time at PEA.

AHS football records indicate that he was the leader point scorer with 222 pts. He had 34 touchdowns and 18 conversion points. He held that recorded until 1971 when Hall of Famer Jerry Mondalto broke his record. Bill was considered one of the main reasons the team went 25-4 during the ”26, “27, and “28 seasons. In fact, a number of people feel the “27 and “28 teams were 2 of the best in Amesbury High School football history.

In baseball he lettered all four years. Bill played 11 games his freshman year with a .214 batting average, sophomore year he had a .408 batting average, junior year .370 batting average and senior year a .464 average. He pitched 6 games and had a 2-1 record while at AHS.

In hockey, he played all four years and lettered his last 3 years. The hockey team was under the mercy of the weather for games and practice times. The team was 4-2 his sophomore year, 2-3 his junior year, and 3-1-1 his senior year.

In track he lettered all 4 years. We have very few records for this time period. We do know that he participated in the shot put with a throw of 39 feet 8 inches, long jump 19 feet 3 inches and was part of relay teams from his freshmen to senior years that won a number of meets.

Leo Dupere, a “Hall of Famer himself”, says that “Bill Clark is one of the old-time legends in the history of Amesbury High School sports.”

Bill was called an immortal by reporters. In sports he was successful in anything he tried. “On the playing fields, Bill never compromised his ideals for high standards of character and for fair, but hard, team play”. This was the reason he succeeded on the playing field and in life.

By many he was one of the “All-Time Great” athletes at Amesbury High School.

Congratulations to inductee William B Clark, Class of 1929.