clark received his b.s. degree in chemistry from antioch college in 1941 and his ph.d. in biochemistry and physiology from the university of rochester in 1944. clark began his professional career as an assistant professor of biochemistry at his alma mater, antioch college, in yellow springs, ohio. when he left antioch in 1958, he was head of the department. from 1955 to 1958, he held a simultaneous appointment the university of cincinnati college of medicine as a senior research associate in pediatrics and surgery. in 1958, clark moved to alabama to join the department of surgery, university of alabama medical college as an associate professor of biochemistry. he later became professor of biochemistry in the same department.