Alumnus John Clark, of Oracle, AZ named 2011 Joe and Marie Rolle Spirit of NAU Award winner

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FLAGSTAFF, AZ (10/17/2011)(readMedia)--  John Clark, '77 BS and '81 MED, of Oracle, Arizona is being honored with the NAUAA Joe and Marie Rolle Spirit of NAU Award for his work recognizing and honoring our country's veterans that are affiliated with the university. Clark, along with co-winner Dick Nothstein, has worked for years with the university and its representatives to award medals of honor to alumni veterans as well as implement a new student veteran center on campus.

"Being selected for the Joe and Marie Rolle Spirit of NAU Award, in my mind, is probably the pinnacle of awards granted at NAU for Alumni. I really appreciate Marie Rolle considering me, and my co-awardee, John Clark, worthy of this honor. The Rolle Family has had a great influence on me, and tens of thousands of other Lumberjacks, both as a student and as a member of the NAU Alumni Board and the NAU community," says Nothstein.

"This is more than an award. Joe and Marie Rolle are the epitome of what service to your university emphasizes. There's just no finer standard then being recognized in their spirit. I'm very humbled by it," says Clark.

"I'm thrilled to honor John and Dick," says Marie Rolle, who nominated the two for the award this year. "They both deserve it for the many things they've done for NAU over the years. They're amazing people."

Clark, a Vietnam veteran, credits Joe and Marie Rolle with guiding him to become the man he is today.

"When I got out of the Army, Joe Rolle took me under his wing. He gave me a letter that allowed me to get a class schedule and had me report to him every Friday at 4:30 for a semester. It started a lifelong interest and friendship. Marie Rolle, working in the guidance center, helped me numerous times in my career decisions and moves for me and my wife. I just can't say enough about them."

Clark comes from a family of NAU alumni. His parents Buck, '50 & '54, and Marcia, '70, Clark met at NAU, just as he met his wife Margery, '75 & '80, at NAU and as his daughter Jaime, '02 & '05, met her husband Josh, '02. John's daughter Kyndal, '07, brother Tom, '84, and sister-in-law Kim, '84, are also NAU alumni. After graduating from NAU, John spent a career as a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent in Arizona schools. He's also served NAU on the national Alumni Board of Directors for six years (2004-2010).

The NAU Alumni Association salutes John with the Joe and Marie Rolle Spirit of NAU Award.

"John dedicated his expertise, personal experiences and patriotic passion to lead NAU's multi-year recognition program to honor alumni veterans and military personnel. His six-year term on the NAU Alumni Board culminated in this highly successful outreach program to pay tribute to our Lumberjack veterans and proud military personnel," says Neil Goodell, Director, NAU Alumni Relations.

Clark will be presented the award during halftime at the NAU Homecoming football game, Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff.

About the award:

The NAUAA JOE AND MARIE ROLLE (Joe class of 1941 & 1950) Spirit of NAU Award. Joe was a member of Chain Gang, played basketball, and was both student body president and homecoming king. He was a member of the NAUAA Past President's Club and, together with wife Marie, received the Distinguished Alumni Couple Award in 1998. Joe was administrator for ASC/NAU for 36 years, with his last post as Dean of Student Services. Marie managed the NAU bookstore and worked in career placement. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where they met, and a longtime booster of her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. Supporters of alumni scholarships and athletics, the Rolle family established the Joseph and Marie Rolle Award for Excellence. Joe passed away earlier this year. Marie resides in the Phoenix area.

Award Description: This award recognizes an alumna or alumnus who radiates the spirit of NAU. They should consistently show their support to the university, whether by attending all athletic events or staying involved with legislative matters or other efforts. This person's devotion to the university should be prominent and ongoing throughout his or her life.