(Peru, Neb.) – The late Ken Clark is the 40th of 84 individuals and/or teams being recognized as part of the lead up to the 31^st Peru State Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
 
As Nebraska and Peru State are both celebrating their 150^th birthdays, the College is also hosting special events throughout the year. The next big event on campus will be the Peru State Athletic Hall of Fame banquet which will take place on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22 and 23.
 
As a lead up to the upcoming Hall of Fame event, the 84 individuals and/or teams will be recognized on a daily basis with one noted on each of the 84 days prior to the event.
 
Clark, originally from Howe, was inducted for his success on the football field while at Peru State.
 
The inscription on Clark's plaque which is exhibited in the upper lobby of the Al Wheeler Activity Center reads as follows: "One of the toughest fullbacks to ever wear the Bobcat blue and white, Ken Clark lettered all four seasons he played football at Peru State from 1951 to 1954, a time when Peru enjoyed a 26-game winning streak. During his junior season he rushed for 212 yards against Doane College. At the time of his induction it was the ninth best single game rushing mark. The Howe, Neb., native was an All -Conference selection three times and was Peru States first NAIA Football All American."   
 
Clark's record-setting game against Doane in 1953 stood until another Hall of Famer, Alvin Holder, broke his mark three different times in 1980. It was still in the Top Ten into the early 2000's.
 
In the 1955 annual, the Peruvian, Clark was noted as the King of Hearts along with the Queen of Hearts June Slater. In the football section, it noted Clark was one of the seniors who during their career had won 34 games and only lost four. Their senior season the team went 7-2 with their only losses coming at the hands of Kearney and Hastings.
 
In the 1954 annual it notes Clark was a physical education major and was also a member of the Blue Devils and P Club.
 
The 1953 football team finished 8-0 while the 1952 team went 10-0. The winning streak had started during the 1951 season when the team won their last three contests after losing to Northern Illinois State.
 
He was a long-time educator and coach and spent a number of years at the now-closed Southeast Nebraska Consolidated in Stella.
 
Clark was inducted into the Peru State Hall of Fame on September 4, 1999, as a member of the 14th class. He passed away in September 28, 2005.