Kenneth Lowell Clarke

Though his trademark reply when asked, "How are you?" was, "Adequate," Kenneth Lowell Clarke lived a more-than-adequate life full of love, hard work, and strong values. His reply showed a self-effacing man comfortable in his own skin, whose love and support for those close to him were unflagging. Ken was born to Dorothy and Lowell Clarke at home in Tivy Valley in eastern Fresno County. The family moved to Fresno when Ken was a toddler, eventually ending up in the Easterby area. Ken graduated from Clovis High School in 1951, then from Fresno State, where he earned a degree in Speech and Radio/TV. After two years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, he returned to a 35-year broadcast career in Fresno, beginning with FM radio before gravitating to television in the early 1960s. Ken started on Channel 30, then moved to Channel 24 where he remained for the next 26 years, establishing himself as one of the finest announcer-directors in the region. His face was rarely seen, but his voice was heard often in commercials and station breaks. He produced and directed thousands of newscasts, commercials, and other programming. Young broadcasters revered Ken as a mentor, receiving support and learning high standards of excellence from him. He was the quintessential behind-the-scenes pro who always made the people on screen look good. Ken became a leader in the broadcast performers' union in Fresno after his first marriage ended. In that union role, he met a young woman newscaster who worked at a rival station. In September 1973, he and Karen Humphrey, in Ken's words, "formed a union of their own." Karen eventually left TV and ran for public office, winning a Fresno City Council seat before becoming Fresno's first woman Mayor in 1989.Ken's support on the computer, at political events, and in the kitchen was essential to her success. They always considered themselves a team, with Ken holding the title of "world's best political spouse." After he retired and she left public office, Ken and Karen moved to Sacramento where she worked for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, and later for the state post secondary education agency. Ken became less active as his health declined, but his support for progressive politics, equal rights, and honest caring politicians, especially women, never waned. He exemplified what women's rights activists spoke of as a "man of quality who is not threatened by women's equality." Ken is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Deborah Herrera (Fred), Diane Clarke (Kevin Roddy), and Denise Grisez (Stephen); grandchildren Heather Burciaga (Toño), Robert Herrera(Tiara), Mark Grisez, and Aaron Grisez; great-grandchildren Andrew, Anahi, and Abel Burciaga; former wife Pat Clarke, extended family and friends. He was pre-deceased by his son Dan. A Fresno celebration of Ken's life will be held Friday, January 4, at 2:00 p.m., at Wesley United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ken's name can be made to Wesley UMC (http:// wesleyfresno.org/donate/) or to the National Women's Political Caucus of California (http:// nwpcca.org/contribute-2/). A Sacramento service is planned for January 12.