Family man, fisherman, fierce client advocate: The Warner family today is mourning the loss of retired partner Roger M. Clark and celebrating his many contributions to the firm. Mr. Clark passed away Saturday, November 1, in Grand Rapids surrounded by his beloved family.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mr. Clark and his younger brother, Colin, spent summers in Hilo, Hawaii working on their father’s island chicken farm. They joined their mother in California for the school year, where Roger graduated from Menlo Atherton High School in 1955. Extremely close growing up, the brothers shared a career path, first in the Navy and then in the law. After graduating from the University of Utah in 1959, Mr. Clark joined the U.S. Navy as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. He flew A-4 Skyhawks off the deck of the U.S.S. Oriskany with more than 200 successful landings.
When Mr. Clark finished his tour of duty, he joined the Naval reserves and enrolled at Duke University School of Law, which was working to establishing itself as a premier law school with a national draw. Mr. Clark quipped he was only accepted so the dean of the law school could put a pin in the South China Sea, where Mr. Clark was stationed when he applied to the school. But that was far from the case, with Mr. Clark shining during his law school years, earning stellar grades and the role as managing editor of the Duke Law Journal.
Recruited to Warner by Joe Dockery, Mr. Clark, his wife, Lee, daughter, Terri, and son, Ken, came to Michigan for the first time for a clerkship. He found a kindred soul who shared his love of fishing in Tom Winquist, who was then in charge of the clerkship program. Mr. Clark accepted a position as an associate after graduating from Duke with distinction in 1967, returning to Grand Rapids with his growing family, which now included another son, Dan.
A lover of all things outdoors, Mr. Clark enjoyed golfing, skiing, canoeing and picnicking with family and friends. He loved bridge and earned the rank of ACBL Life Master. An avid bird hunter, Mr. Clark developed a special bond with Tom Winquist’s stepfather, Bernie, and the pair enjoyed “Bird Hunting with Bernie” every Sunday for many years. An accomplished fly fisherman, Mr. Clark and others enjoyed the camaraderie of Trout Opener the last Saturday in April each year, a firm tradition that continues to this day.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark particularly were fond of the friendships they created with other Warner attorneys who started at the same time, many of whom also had young, growing families.
Mr. Clark began his nearly 40 years of legal practice in corporate law, working closely with Tom Winquist in his early years at the firm. He would continue to represent some of Warner’s largest corporate clients over the following decades, although he expanded into litigation and focused most of his career there.
At the time, Warner was just emerging from the “founding fathers” phase of the firm, with only one of the three named partners still alive but no longer practicing. As the firm evolved with a more organized governance structure, Mr. Clark was involved in leadership roles, including serving as the firm’s first Loss Prevention Partner, a role that has become General Counsel.
A lawyer’s lawyer, Mr. Clark was liked and respected by everyone at the firm. While associates may have been intimidated by him at first, they embraced Mr. Clark as a patient teacher and mentor willing to help them become better attorneys and, in time, better partners. The Clarks regularly entertained associates to ensure they and their spouses found a solid footing for success at the firm.
While quiet and deliberate in his speech, Mr. Clark was a legal mastermind and meticulous in his work. He was recognized as an excellent writer and a consummate planner. He planned out his cross examinations pretty much right down to every question.
During the early 1970s, Mr. Clark led a Warner team defending a client in a series of cases involving contaminated animal feed. Excellent at managing complex matters, Mr. Clark oversaw this litigation, which stretched out over a decade and could have 20 concurrent cases at a time. He was recognized as a fierce advocate for his clients, both in and out of the courtroom.
A family man to his core, Mr. Clark adored his children and was proud of their accomplishments. He embraced the role of grandfather to his seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He and Lee enjoyed nearly 64 years of a wonderful marriage, continuing to make their home in the Grand Rapids area for the past 56 years while enjoying winters in Florida. He was an expert vegetable gardener, avid photographer and recognized as the Kitchen Fairy for his early morning breakfast magic on ski and golf trips with family and friends, A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date in 2026. Mr. Clark’s obituary can be found online here.