With the passing of Judge Cloyd Clark this past weekend, McCook and Southwest Nebraska has lost one its most vocal, most passionate, most boisterous supporters.
While Cloyd had been ill for a short time, his death still comes as a shock and now the tributes and accolades have begun to pour in. And not just because he was so active in the community, but because Cloyd was larger than life. His booming voice, his bushy mustache, his deep-throated laugh.
There are so many words to describe Cloyd, who will have an impact on our community for generations to come, and these are just a few from those who knew him, worked alongside him, and loved him.
An amazing delegator. An idea guy.
Cloyd didn’t just talk the talk….O.K. he sometimes did just talk the talk but that usually led to the project still happening. One of the things Cloyd was so good at was coming up with ideas and then somehow getting others to do them. He was so persuasive in his ability to get others to follow up on the unique ideas which popped into his head.
Welcoming and gracious. Passionate leader.
Over and over, people are remembering Cloyd as the person who boosted them up, who gave them confidence in themselves, who made them think their idea was possible. He had an open mind for what the future might hold and encouraged others to make those ideas happen.
Amazing storyteller. Colorful.
Cloyd loved to tell stories and could enrapture an audience with his enthusiasm, which led to the the concept of a storytelling festival, especially after outsiders visited and said everyone here should just pack up their bags and leave. With the help of many others, the Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival was born and continues to thrive and grow more than 20 years later.
Hard worker…at fun.
From the start of the Live at the Bieroc concert series, Cloyd and Linda Clark could be found front and center for the shows at Sehnert’s Bakery. At nearly every show, Cloyd would be at “his” table with a bottle of wine nearby, a hearty laugh at the ready and prepared to interact and possibly sing along with the performer.
Ornery and humorous.
Cloyd always a joke or a story ready for his audience, whether it was his regular lunch bunch which included his wife, Linda, and Sharon Bohling, Dale and Mary Dueland and Cathy and Bruce McDowell, or someone who just happened to be passing by.
Elder Statesman. Passionate Leader.
To say Cloyd was influential and involved is an understatement. At his passing, Cloyd was still heavily active, serving as president of the Norris Institute which is working to create Norris Alley; and a member of the High Plains Museum board, which is undergoing many tremendous updates. And in addition to having the distinction of Rotary District Governor, Cloyd rarely missed a McCook Rotary meeting, where he could be counted on to use his deep baritone voice to belt out the weekly sing-along.
Man with a Plan. Early Supporter.
Cloyd always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye, especially when he thought about the future and the possibilities for our community. He was a genuine listener, who was always interested in ideas about what was possible.
Woo and welcoming.
“Woo” stands for winning others over, enjoying the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. According to his son, Paul, Cloyd was most proud that one of his strengths was “woo” because ultimately he was going to make friends with everyone in the room…whether they knew it or not.
Kind and deep. Incredibly huge heart.
At the end of the day, Cloyd loved people. It showed when he was on the bench as a judge, pulling parents to the side to determine the best course of action for their child before donning his robe to make the decision official. It showed in the creation of the Prairie Plains Court Appointed Special Advocates program to advocate for the safety and well-being of children.
Legendary.
I don’t include that word lightly but McCook won’t be the same with Cloyd’s passing. He truly wanted what was best for McCook and for its citizens and he made a difference in so many people’s lives over the years.
There is no way to fill Cloyd’s shoes and there is a great void - literally a void on many committees and organizations in our community. So what is the best way to remember and honor Cloyd’s legacy?
It is to step up and get involved. It is to continue to telling stories and sharing a glass of wine. It is to remember that every day is a gift and embrace it with a belly-filled laugh.
If we truly want to remember and honor Judge Cloyd Clark, we must remember his spirit and work together to make McCook an even better place to call home.
Linda Graff named McCook Volunteer of the Month for December 2025
By focusing on what is important, we can make an even better impact in our communities.
After a 10-year hiatus, the McCook Holiday Home Tours return focusing on downtown upstairs apartments.
While many people think volunteering is for older residents, serving your community has no age restrictions. And young people can regularly be found lending a hand or offering their services in their hometown. The November 2025 McCook Volunteer of the Month recognizes one of many young people are working to make their community an even better place to call home: Grady Riemenschneider. Currently a senior at McCook High School, Grady volunteers with a wide variety of organizations and groups. As a four-year member of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Youth Change Reaction, Grady serves as the ambassador for the youth group’s “Cars Under Stars,” the outdoor movie theater at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. At nearly every showing, he can be found operating the projector and setting up the parking lot, as well as passing along his knowledge to the next ambassador. In McCook’s FFA program, Grady has held officer roles the past four years and is currently the chapter vice president, organized the chapter banquet in 2025 and coached for the conduct of chapter meetings. Along with serving as the president of the Driftwood Feeders 4-H Club, he assists with setup, tear down and fundraising for the dog show and helps fellow members train their dogs. Grady steps in to help and lead at local events, including Prairie Plains CASA’s Kick in’ It Up for CASA and the Cajun Broil; the Edward Jones Alzheimer’s Walk; operating sound boards for various groups; and Feed the Farmer. And he has served as a youth leader at McCook Christian Church for elementary youth since approximately 2018 as well as stepping up to ensure the ag program ran smoothly during a teacher’s maternity leave Upon request from his mother about some of Grady’s activities, Sharleen noted that he is the “Chief Household Operations Officer: first responder for Mom’s to-do list, go-to chauffeur and caretaker for his favorite sidekick (a.k.a. his nephew), and the family’s unofficial event planner who somehow keeps everyone together without a clipboard.” The McCook Philanthropy Council recognizes a volunteer every month who is doing good work in McCook and Red Willow County. If there is a volunteer in the community who should be recognized, please contact the McCook Chamber of Commerce at 308-345-3200 or visit McCook Volunteers on the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s website, mccookfoundation.org to complete a nomination form. The only requirement is that the nominee must be a resident of McCook or Red Willow County but please have information about the nominee along with where and how they volunteer in the community. The volunteer honoree is selected monthly by the McCook Philanthropy Council.
With the holiday's nearing, MCFF member and Mayor Linda Taylor reflects on the many things to be thankful in McCook.
The names of those people who have made a generational impact on McCook and Southwest Nebraska is a long list. Many of them are working day-in, day-out right now to make their mark on the community. And then there are those people who no longer call McCook home but still make an impact long after they are gone. Allen Strunk is one of those people. Allen passed away on Nov. 1 at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada but he never lost the love of his hometown. Born and raised in McCook, Allen was a member of an already well-known family, Harry and Arlene Strunk. The Strunks started and published the McCook Daily Gazette, with the motto, “Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.” A saying that was so important that Harry had it etched at the top of his downtown newspaper office on Norris Avenue. That sense of service was passed along to Allen, who continued to serve his community as he took over leadership of the Gazette. I didn’t know Allen personally until he came back for visits years later. Even though my first job upon arriving in McCook was at the McCook Daily Gazette and Allen had turned over the publishing reins to Gene Morris many years prior, the Strunk legacy loomed large. He was instrumental in the building of the then-new YMCA, moving the facility from downtown to its current location next to the McCook High School. He was a key player in the new hospital, again moving from one location to a new expanded space. And McCook Community College benefitted his involvement in an expansion. Those projects continue to impact McCook today. And the support didn’t stop just because Allen retired from the Gazette and left McCook. There are programs the Strunks are involved in that benefit McCook and Southwest Nebraska. The Strunks continue to support Santa Claus Lane, which is overseen by the McCook Chamber of Commerce. And which after a few years of decline is seeing a resurgence of enthusiasm and nostalgia for the decorative holiday pieces lining Norris Avenue. Allen funds the annual McCook Area Outstanding Teacher award, which provides a financial prize to several teachers every year. And Allen recognized the work of the McCook Community Foundation Fund, providing a donation several years ago so that he could see its impact while he was still alive. This has led MCFF to consider how they will recognize and remember Allen for years to come. Because of his belief in service to his community, this could mean more recognition for the countless volunteers who keep our community thriving. It could be a day of community service, to see how many people can come together to make something happen. It could be a celebration for all the great things happening in our community. During Allen’s memorial service this past week in McCook, his step-daughter-in-law read the poem, “The Dash" by Linda Ellis, who published it in 1996. It reflects on the meaning of the dash between the birth and death dates on a tombstone. The dash is a reminder of everything that happens between the moment a person is born and the moment a person dies. The dash emphasizes the importance of how one lives their life during that time. The dash prompts a person to think about living, rather than worrying about dying. Ultimately, the dash is where all the good - and the bad - happens. And Allen Strunk made the most of his “dash,” both in his community and within his family. We can’t all run a newspaper. We likely aren’t going to etch our favorite saying into a building. But we all need to consider how we are paying the “rent for the space we occupy in this world.” And we can all make a difference in our hometowns, whether we currently live in them or even if we haven’t stepped foot on the main street in years.
Everyone feels a need to be needed and it is shown through the Big Give and Meal Kit Giveaways
SWNE Big Give reaches new heights thanks to enthusiasm of organizations, individuals and businesses
Food pantries are seeing an increased need, which means the community must step up with donations of food and time to help those who struggle to put food on the table.
