Nestled along Kabekona Creek in northern Minnesota, the Clark Store was a community cornerstone for all sorts of outdoorsmen during Al Clark’s childhood. Patrons came in dreaming of the big buck, the big fish or the big adventure in the wild.
The family store was also where Clark’s dream of a college education began.
“That was a goal for our parents, that we went and got a college degree,” Clark said. “So we all went and started in Bemidji.”
Clark graduated in 1964 with a degree in business education. But what his dreams couldn’t envision were the six decades of successes and satisfactions that he later found in the Lone Star State.
A southern voyage to the top
At Bemidji State College, Clark’s life revolved around academics, commuting from home and embracing campus activities. He frequented basketball and football games, and he remembers the weight of taking many, many credits.
After graduating, Clark began his career in Pine River, teaching vocational education and coaching basketball and baseball. But his passion for business never wavered. His curiosity drove him to study successful entrepreneurs and explore alternative career possibilities. A move to the Roseville school system allowed him to establish a vocational office program, and along the way, he earned his master’s degree in 1976 and his doctorate in 1978 from the University of Minnesota.
Despite opportunities to lead vocational programs in the Twin Cities, Clark longed for independence and entrepreneurship. Inspired by his upbringing at the family’s Clark Store, he decided to carve his own path. Clark identified a promising future with State Farm Insurance, so in 1979, he made the bold decision to relocate to Texas, where he started an agency from scratch.
“Back then, Minnesota was not hiring agents. So I researched and saw what dynamic growth was happening for the future in Texas,” Clark said. “I made that move 47 years ago. I came here and started from zero – no business, no accounts – and built this agency.”
Through meticulous research, networking with top agents and “hiring good people,” Clark built what became the country’s No. 1-ranked State Farm agency for 19 years. Clark became a trusted name in Arlington. Over time, his dedication to excellence earned him membership in State Farm’s prestigious President’s Club, the highest achievement an agent can receive.
Lifelong relationships thanks to State Farm
Beyond his professional achievements, Clark’s legacy has been defined by his mentorship of others – including Bemidji State connections. While attending an international State Farm event, he met Bemidji’s Sara Labraaten. Labraaten’s husband, Jon, is a 2007 BSU graduate, two of her daughters are alumnae, and her son has spent the past two seasons playing on the Beaver Football team. The pair’s chance meeting sparked a lasting friendship and professional collaboration.
Clark and Labraaten regularly exchange ideas through their professional study group that travels across the country to meet every few months. Last spring, Labraaten was honored as the No. 1 State Farm agent in the nation for the fourth consecutive year.
“It’s unbelievable what she has accomplished out of Bemidji with her business,” Clark said. “She climbed the corporate ladder.”
Clark also has the company to thank for his proudest partnership. It was through State Farm ties that he met his wife, Shalyn. The two have enjoyed 36 years of marriage together.
Shalyn has her own State Farm agency that also stands out as one of the most successful in Texas. Like her husband and Labraaten, she is a distinguished President's Club Member, exemplifying her own excellence in the field.
“When you have good people – like Shalyn – you’re on the same wavelength, you’re on the same thought patterns, you understand each other, it marks it a lot easier,” Clark said. “You can share goals.”
Giving back comes full circle
Clark’s love for Bemidji State has never wavered. In honor of his roots, he established the Al Clark Scholarship, which has now provided scholarships to dozens of BSU students over the past 17 years.
“I just thought about what I could do and be proud to do,” Clark said. “It’s kind of like a gift from the family. None of us had scholarships, you know.”
He can’t take credit for his spirit of philanthropy, though.
“Initially, the idea of starting a scholarship came from my friend Jack Jacobsen,” Clark said. “We played sports together at Laporte. We both went to Bemidji State together. Then he got his degree and he ended up handling scholarship programs as one of his jobs before he retired. We’ve always been friends. So I became interested in giving back.”
Jacobsen, a fellow 1964 BSC graduate alongside Clark, was the director of financial aid for many years at BSU. He has since died, but his wife Delphine currently has a scholarship at Bemidji State in her and Jack’s names.
Fittingly, everything comes full circle. Clark’s success in education, business and mentorship traces back to the values he learned growing up in Kabekona Creek and his foundational experiences at Bemidji State. That learned passion for helping others continues to drive his “do-good” work with State Farm today.
“That’s the insurance industry,” Clark said. “What I do is help people.”