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Sep 7, 2012 12:26 PM

A. Gordon Clark,  former senior vice president of sales and marketing for Freightliner Corp. and consultant  to Daimler AG when it entered in the U.S. trucking market, passed away on Sept.  2, in Chagrin Falls, OH. He was 90.

  Clark's transportation  career spanned seven decades and featured positions both in the U.S. and  abroad. After serving in the Canadian Navy during World War II, he started his  business sales career disposing of war surplus materials.

  Clark joined White Motor Corp.  in the early 1950s as branch manager of the company’s Toronto operation. He was  promoted to lead the entire Canadian sales and marketing operations and  eventually was named vice president of sales and marketing at corporate  headquarters in Cleveland, OH.  

  In 1980, Clark joined  Daimler Benz AG as a consultant to help establish the company's North American  truck business. He subsequently was appointed senior vice president of sales  and marketing for Freightliner Corp., Daimler Benz's newly acquired truck  manufacturing subsidiary in Portland, OR.

  In 1989, Clark joined  Penske Corp. and worked closely with Roger Penske in his effort to re-establish  Detroit Diesel Corp.’s leadership in heavy-duty truck engines in North America.  With Clark’s sales expertise, together with the industry’s first electronically  controlled truck engine, the Detroit Diesel Series 60 became the dominant  engine of choice among truck fleets. He retired from Penske in 2005 at age 83.

  He was born on Sept.  5, 1921, in Toronto, Canada.

  According to his  family, Clark was known for his sense of humor and his love of travel. He also  had a passion for animals and cars.

  He is survived by his  wife of 70 years, Maureen Clark, and his daughter Susan Clark.

  Memorial Services will  be held 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, at Strough-Lawrence Funderal Home, 95  South Franklin, St., Chagrin Falls, OH. Memorial donations may be made in  Clark's name to the Geauga County Rescue  Village on 15463 Chillicothe Rd, Novelty, OH 44072, (440) 338-4819.