Jack Stark
Class of 1951
Outstanding Tiger Alumni 1991
Jack Stark
It’s been 40 years since Jack Stark and Don Hollenback received their degrees from Arkansas City Junior College, and since their departure the two men have helped change the lives of many people.
It’s their professional achievement and service to others that has earned them the Outstanding Alumni award for 1991 from what is now called Cowley County Community College.
Stark, 59, is superintendent of Grand Teton National Park in Moose, Wyo., a position he has held since 1979. The Ark City native was raised in a community college family and said he has many good memories of his days at Cowley.
“My dad taught chemistry in the junior college for 40 years and coached basketball,” Stark said. “My mother graduated from there as well as my wife.”
Stark married the former Gail White of Arkansas City, who was Queen Alalah XXIV in 1955 and later Miss Kansas. Her parents, Warded and Lucille White, still live in Ark City.
Stark is responsible for the entire park operation. He said it was an honor to receive the award from Cowley.
“You wonder if anyone even remembers you,” he said. “Coming from a junior college family, I’ve always had a high regard for the junior college there and the start in education I got there. It’s an honor for me.”
Stark holds a bachelor of science degree in forestry from Colorado A&M, now Colorado State University. He said the industry has been around for a while, but that it probably was unusual for “a kid from Kansas” to go off to forestry school.
He said the beauty of the mountains in Wyoming is breathtaking and that his position as superintendent of the national park has been one of the highlights of his career.
“It’s snowing up here today as I look out my window,” he said. Stark and wife were scheduled to arrive in Ark City sometime Thursday night. Temperatures were expected to be near 80 degrees.
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