Jack Gerald Clark Jr., affectionately known to many as “Big Jack,” died peacefully in Arlington on July 12, 2026. He was 72. Born and raised in Dallas, Clark made Arlington his home after graduating from The University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned his bachelor’s degree before embarking on a long career in sales, entrepreneurship and invention.
From executive sales to patented inventions
Clark’s professional life bridged major corporate roles and small-business invention. He worked in executive sales for companies including Bell & Howell and Motorola, and he also held positions in the automotive sector. That sales experience became the springboard for a series of businesses he launched over the years.
His entrepreneurial ventures included Equipment Broker Service (EBS), Zip Strip Inc., eUniversecars and Mighty Max Cart. He also held patents for original creations such as the Zip Strip Machine and the J-Popper. Those products and companies mark a career that mixed practical problem-solving with commercial ambition.
Family, humor and a “gentle giant” presence
People who knew Clark outside the boardroom describe him first by his size and then by his heart. He was, in the obituary issued by Angel Hills Funeral Directors, called a “gentle giant” who loved to make others laugh and to bring light into a room. He married Shelia Clark in 1981; though the marriage ended in 2005, the pair remained lifelong best friends until his final days.
"He will be remembered for his warmth, his sensitive nature, his unyielding optimism, and the boundless love he gave to his family and friends."
Clark’s pride in his family was a throughline. He is survived by his sons, Jack Clark III (and wife, Nichole) and Alexander Clark (and wife, Leah); grandchildren Noah, Jonah, Avery, Julia and Lucy; his former wife and close friend Shelia Clark; and siblings including David Clark, Lydia Adams, Pamela Monday and Sandy Yockey, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Clark Sr. and Paula Clark, and by his sister Paula Clark.
Local footprint and legacy
Clark’s connection to Arlington included his status as an alumnus of UTA, and his businesses and inventions reflect the kind of hands-on, inventive drive that shows up in small companies across North Texas. For many in the community, he will be remembered less for titles and patents than for how he treated people: generous, funny and ready to lift others’ spirits. That combination—business acumen with a convivial personal style—is a familiar one in Arlington, where alumni networks, small firms and family ties often overlap.
Whether through a patented device used in a shop or a joke told at a family gathering, Clark left traces of himself in places both public and private. Those who knew him said his presence felt larger than life; the obituary notes that his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
- Date of death: July 12, 2026 (Arlington)
- Age: 72
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, The University of Texas at Arlington
- Survivors: Sons Jack III and Alexander; grandchildren Noah, Jonah, Avery, Julia and Lucy; former wife Shelia Clark; siblings and extended family
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Notable employers | Bell & Howell, Motorola, automotive sector |
| Entrepreneurial ventures | EBS, Zip Strip Inc., eUniversecars, Mighty Max Cart |
| Patents | Zip Strip Machine, J-Popper |
Funeral arrangements were handled by Angel Hills Funeral Directors. Additional details on viewing, services or remembrances were not included in the obituary notice publicly available at the time of this report.
In Arlington, where college campuses, manufacturing know-how and family-run enterprises intersect, Clark’s life reads like a familiar chapter: someone who used practical skill and imagination to build things, and who treated neighbors and relatives as the real measure of success. For those who gathered around him — and for the grandchildren who will carry his name forward — that combination matters more than any patent number.
