The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Former mayor passes at 81
Clyde B. King only Republican ever elected to city's top post
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: January 11, 2007
Ypsilanti lost a longtime civic leader, lifelong resident and "community asset" last week when Clyde K. King died at age 81. King died on Jan. 4, at the Huron Woods Residential Home, part of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital complex in Superior Township. He had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years, according to relatives.
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King served on the Ypsilanti School District Board of Education from 1971 to 1983. From 1972 to 1974, he was vice president of the board. From 1974 to 1983, he served as president.
Among his accomplishments on the school board was the achievement of better racial balance in the district by redrawing school boundary lines. He also was instrumental in establishing the Perry Child Development Center.
"The school district was seeing some financial difficulties in the early 1970s like we are now," said John Fulton, the district's executive director of human resources. "Clyde was in the financial side of Ford and he had the wherewithal to help out, so he ran for office."
Fulton, who grew up down the street from the King family, said King was admired by both the voters who elected him to the board and the trustees, who elected him president for nine years.
"He had a good, level head. He listened and brought perspective to the decision-making process," Fulton said.
Fulton recalled how King would go into school buildings and talk with teachers and administrators about problems or situations to get an understanding of day-to-day operations. "He would talk with people on every level, from custodians to administrators, before he would make a decision," Fulton said. "He believed in making an informed vote."
Fulton said as an adult he and his family ended up moving two doors down from King, who had moved to a different street. "He'd walk down and want to know what was happening in the district," Fulton remembered. "He was always interested and he had a lot of history of the district he could talk about.
"He ended up being my mentor as I went from teacher to administration," Fulton said, who became employed in the district in 1973. "He always gave sound advice. He was a tremendous asset to the community."
King also served on the Ypsilanti City Council for five years and was a two-term mayor of the city. During his time on Council, King was the Vice Chair of the Ypsilanti Human Relations Commission and the Chairman of Ypsilanti Public Housing.
King was the only Republican ever elected mayor of Ypsilanti. He served in that capacity over an entirely Democratic council.
Outgoing Fire Chief James Roberts recalled serving under King as mayor. "He was as common a man as the day is old," Roberts said. "By 'common' I mean he never put on airs or treated anyone like he was better than they were. He was a very decent man — what we called a 'salt of the earth' guy.
"He never had a hidden agenda. You always knew where you stood with him. He was always cheerful and friendly."
Roberts, who is retiring after almost 38 years with the city, said he respected King. "I enjoyed working for him. He never let me down. He always had Ypsilanti at heart."
Besides his elected positions with the school district and city, King also served as treasurer for the Ypsilanti Sesquicentennial Celebration and was a former member of the NAACP, the Ypsilanti Optimist Club and president of the Ypsilanti Lions Club.
King was also involved in coaching with the Ypsilanti American Little League for 20 years, and served as a Cub Master for both Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Estabrook Elementary School.
"I honestly don't remember when I met Clyde King," said Ypsilanti School District's current superintendent, James Hawkins. "I came here in 1984 and it was sometime shortly after that.
"But I remember being impressed by Mr. King's forthrightness. He was a person with good intentions, who knew what he wanted to accomplish and knew how to work collaboratively with others to get it done.
"I admired him. He never handed you a line. He was always specific and direct and got along well with everybody.
"He was dedicated to this city and the school district. He was committed to the community. He really cared."
King worked for Ford Motor Company for 41 years and was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Navy.
Clyde King was born on June 2, 1925 in Ypsilanti. In 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Wilks, who survives.
Also surviving are his children: Sharon (Dick) Covell of Manitou Beach, MI; John of Ypsilanti; Mark (Lori) of Titusville, FL; Rick (Cindy) of Belleville, MI; Susan (Gary) Case of Ft. Wayne, IN; and former daughter-in-law Arlynn King of Ypsilanti.
He is also survived by grandchildren Kelly, Tim, Christopher (Antonia), Carrie, Rob, Jason (Alisha) Jilianne, Lauren, Ryan, Collin, Chelsea, Alan and Dustin, as well as nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 8 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Afterward, a motorcade escorted by Ypsilanti Police wended its way through the city King so loved, before proceeding to Highland Cemetery. There, a National Guard company gave King a three-volley gun salute.
Memorial contributions can be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church or St. Joseph Mercy Hospice.
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