The Pensacola legal community lost one of its most influential figures last week with the passing of William (Bill) H. Clark on October 10. As a founding partner of Clark Partington Attorneys at Law, Bill’s legacy extends far beyond the courtroom—he was a tireless defender of First Amendment rights and a pillar of integrity in Northwest Florida.
A First Amendment Champion
Bill Clark made his mark as a preeminent First Amendment and media law attorney. His work defending the Pensacola News Journal became legendary in local legal circles. Fellow founder Donald Partington recalled how Bill kept prepared memos ready for instant deployment, once memorably slipping an “open this hearing” memo under a closed courtroom door—a tactical move that forced transparency in the legal process.
- “If there is one legacy of Bill that I think he would want to be remembered for, it is his deep belief in the importance of the First Amendment,” Partington said. Bill’s commitment to freedom of speech and press wasn’t limited to his practice. For eleven years, he drove to the University of West Florida each evening to teach Media Law as an adjunct professor, shaping the next generation’s understanding of these fundamental rights.
Building a Legal Institution
In late 1975, Bill walked into his colleague’s office with a bold proposition: “I just told Joe Harrell we quit—let’s go look for offices.” He and Donald Partington opened their doors at 21 S. Tarragona, with Martha Clark serving as bookkeeper. About a year later, Bob and Chris Hart joined them, forming what would become Clark, Partington, Hart & Hart. A local businessman famously remarked that “overnight, it became the best law firm in Pensacola.”
- Bill’s philosophy was simple yet profound: growth stems from trust, friendship, and ethical practice. Reflecting on the firm’s expansion from four partners to nearly a hundred colleagues, he once explained, “It grew because a bunch of good lawyers who were good friends, and who presented themselves to their clients as ethical people worthy of respect.”
Shareholder Scott Remington captured Bill’s enduring influence: “His charm, wit, and integrity were not just admirable qualities; they leached into the very fabric of the firm.”
Bill is survived by his wife Martha and daughters Mary Ellen, Ginny, and Peggy. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, at First Presbyterian Church in Pensacola.
To honor Bill’s memory, consider supporting causes that protect freedom of speech and press—the values he championed throughout his remarkable career.