Jack Clark, founder of Clark Properties, LLC, one of Ocala’s longest standing land development companies, swears that his first ‘office’ was a wooden box with a phone in it, nailed to a tree. He used a single silver key that he still owns to this day to access his ‘office.’

Jack graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Business Administration, majoring in real estate. He was working in real estate in Michigan when he and his wife, Dorothy, moved to Florida in 1955 and joined Dorothy’s father, Al Bierly, in his real estate office in Silver Springs. In 1957, Jack decided to go into business for himself as Jack A. Clark Builder.

The business began when Jack traded a new house he had built for an old one owned by a customer. He took the old house as a down payment on the new one; then turned around and sold the old one at a profit. This approach appealed to the many World War II veterans who were flocking to the area at the time and the business flourished.

Jack’s first development project was Forest Park where he built a few spec homes. Soon Jack was developing, with Jim Gale as a partner, and building in Heritage Hills, where he provided such amenities as paved streets, curbs and gutters, sanitary sewers, and city water even though building codes at the time did not require they be installed.

Jack A. Clark Builder eventually became Clark Construction Company of Ocala and then Clark Properties, LLC. Over the years, the company developed and built neighborhoods such as Bretton Woods, Southwood, and Laurel Run. Jack’s first commercial project was a Pepsi Cola bottling plant in Ocala. In the mid sixties, Jack became one of the largest Armco Steel Building dealers and went on to build several industrial and commercial parks.

Greg Clark, Jack’s oldest son, worked for his father for several years. Today, though no longer a part of Clark Properties, LLC, Greg continues to work with his father on other joint projects in aviation and land development. After working with Jack previously, David, the youngest son, rejoined the family firm in 2003 and is now manager and co-owner of Clark Properties.

Dorothy Clark was active in the firm as it grew and did much of the interior decorating for the homes. Today, David’s wife, Sharon, and daughter, Danielle, have taken over the interior decorating responsibilities for the new properties constructed by Clark Properties. The team work and strong relationship between Jack and Dorothy has been instrumental in the success of Clark Properties.

Always active in civic and professional affairs, Jack was one of the founders of the Marion County Home Builders Association and served as the first president. After being a member of Ocala City Council from 1967-1970, Jack later was elected mayor in 1989.

Dorothy, also a graduate of Michigan State University, and Jack has been very active patrons of the arts through the years, contributing greatly to Ocala’s cultural development. Perhaps most noteworthy is the role the couple played in establishing FAFO (Fine Arts for Ocala). Also of significance is the role they both played in helping to establish the Appleton Cultural Center. In the 1980s, Jack and Dorothy played a central role in raising funds for the Appleton Museum of Art and the Ocala Civic Theatre.

In an interview with View Magazine, Jack said, “I can honestly say ours has been a happy and satisfying union. I learned early on to involve my wife in any decision I make…I guess you could say Dorothy and I are partners.”

Jack retired for the first time in 1980 but it did not last. He jumped back into the business after three months and was also appointed to the Fine Arts Council for the State of Florida where he served for eight years. He retired again in 1994 but soon went back into real estate and organized a car sales company and an auto financing firm.

Clark Properties LLC remains very much a family business. Jason Clark, David’s oldest son, is currently working as administrator and David’s right-hand man. Rebecca, Jason’s wife, is the office manager. Danielle, David’s oldest daughter, works as the sales manager. Jonathan, David’s youngest son, works part-time as an administrative assistant while attending college.

The company is currently working on finishing existing projects and is looking forward to future developments such as Laurel Office Park and Laurel Brook in Southeast Ocala, which are soon to be Marion County’s newest professional park and gated, waterfeature community.