Lake Kiowa – Clarke Selman, 100, died in his sleep June 23rd peacefully at home in Lake Kiowa, Texas in a loving environment, supported by family and friends. He was born in Walters Oklahoma, 100 years ago to Larkin and Margaret Beauchamp Selman. His brother Beauchamp Selman passed away in 1999. Clarke was a patriot, a loving father and husband to his wife Ruth Rutherford for 67 years who died in 2007. Clarke graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1936 and was a member of Sigma Alfa Epsilon Fraternity. He served in the US Air Force from 1939 to 1968 and retired as a full Colonel. His career included being a squadron commander in the 49th Fighter Group in the Pacific during WWII, Base Commander at Tinker AFB and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Communication Command. As one of his fellow officers told his son in 1967, “Some officers are highly respected, and some officers are loved, but your father is one of the few that is both”.
After his retirement in 1968, he returned to live in Wagner Oklahoma, then moved in 1996 to Tucson Arizona and since 2007 spent the last eleven years of his life living in Lake Kiowa. Clarke was an artist having created a handicraft medium called “Candallions” and was an outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, golf and picking pecans in the Fall.
Clarke’s life will remain an inspiration and demonstration of how a small-town boy lived more than a century with honor, integrity and faith in his God and his fellow human beings. Just before his death when asked what he wished to be remembered for he said, “Just for doing the best I could — I’m most proud of my two children”.
He is survived by his daughter Carol Maners who provided him loving care in his later years and his son Jim Selman who lives in Ojai, California. He will also be missed by his grandchildren Cindy, Clarke and Lauren Selman and all of his friends in Lake Kiowa.
At his request, there will be no memorial service although he will receive Military Honors and be put to rest at the DFW National Veterans Cemetery next to Ruth.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to Home Hospice Grayson and Cooke County.
I am a researcher at the MacArthur Museum Brisbane (Australia) in the former Headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur. We have recently acquired a $1 note signed by several generals at what appears to read “James C. Selman” with captain’s bars drawn underneath. It was signed at a dinner on Java hosted by General Patrick Hurley and Australian, British and Dutch officers. I would like to contact the family to see if they recognise the handwriting and/or have any information that might confirm the name and his presence at the dinner in February 1942.