Clark Ridpath

(From Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home)

Clark A. Ridpath, formerly of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully in Springfield, MO on August 24, 2023.

He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 23, 1930, the son of Dr. Ben Morris Ridpath, a Methodist minister, and Hilda Eck Ridpath, both deceased. He was the loving and caring husband for 65 years to Martha Jane Ridpath, who precedes him in death. Clark is survived by a daughter, Dr. Carlin Ann Delcampo and her husband, Dr. Louis J. Delcampo, and one grandchild, Sophia Marlena Delcampo, also of Springfield.

Ridpath was a 35-year member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, serving in numerous posts, and teaching an adult Sunday school class and then subsequently a 30-year member Country Club United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Pastor Parish Committee, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Administrative Board, and other positions.

He lived in St. Louis until 1939, at which time he moved with his parents to Joplin, Missouri. He attended Joplin Senior High School, graduating in 1948, with honors, as second-ranking student of the 331 member Senior Class. While in high school, he participated in Scouting, attainting the rank of Eagle Scout, Boys’ State, ROTC, and activities of the National Honor Society.

In September 1948, he entered the Joplin Junior College and graduated from that school in 1950. For the first semester of his junior year, he enrolled at the Kansas State College in Pittsburg, Kansas, but in January 1951 he moved to Kansas City, and matriculated at the University of Missouri Kansas City, graduating in June 1952 from the College of Liberal Arts with a BA degree in English Language and Literature.

In September 1952, Ridpath was admitted to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. While attending law school, he was the recipient of several scholastic awards. In 1954, he was adjudged the first-place winner of the Moot Court competition and represented the law school in the regional competition. He was Associate Editor of and contributor to the Law Review and in 1955 was awarded the Scholastic Award of the Bureau of National Affairs. He graduated in June 1955 with a Juris Doctor degree.

On June 30, 1955, in Kansas City, he married the love of his life, Martha Jane Mericle.

In September 1955, he was granted by the faculty of the law school a full Graduate Fellowship and entered the Graduate Division. As a graduate Fellow, Ridpath concentrated on courses in the field of real estate, performed teaching as a member of school’s staff, and engaged in special research under the direction of faculty.

Upon completion of his year of graduate study, he was selected to become law clerk to the Honorable R. Jasper Smith, United States District Judge, in Kansas City. He entered upon his duties with Judge Smith on August 6, 1956.

Following his clerkship with Judge Smith, he was appointed on January 1, 1958, by William P. Rogers, then Attorney General of the United States, to the position of Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. In such capacity, Ridpath served under Edward L. Scheufler, U.S. Attorney, and handled the trials of both civil and criminal matters. During this time, he was engaged as chief trial counsel in major criminal prosecutions, including perjury and income tax evasion.

While serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney, he also received an appointment as Lecturer in Law, teaching on a part-time basis, law courses at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

In November 1961, he entered the private practice of law. In March 1963, he was elected as Councilman at Large, Second District, and became a member of the City Council of Kansas City, Missouri. He was re-elected in 1967 and voluntarily chose not to seek re-election upon the completion of his second term in April 1971. From 1967 to 1971, in addition to serving as a member of the Council, he also served as Mayor Pro Tem, upon the selection by, and at the pleasure of the Council. During his councilmanic service, Ridpath was Chairman of the special Municipal Courts Committee, which, with the support of the local Bar, initiated and coordinated efforts resulting in a new Municipal Courts Building, the adoption of a non-partisan judicial selection procedure, increase in municipal judicial compensation, and other improvements.

In 1973, he joined the corporate law department of the Agriculture and Animal Health Divisions of Bayer Corporation USA, in Kansas City, serving as Chief Legal Officer and Director of Legal Services, for 23 years, before retiring in 1995.

He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the American Society of Legal History, and the American Judicature Society. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1955 and admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and the United States Court of Appeals, for both the Third and Eighth Circuits.

His civic endeavors included service as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Missouri School of Religion, Columbia, Missouri, as Vice Chairman of the advisory board of the Salvation Army, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Travelers Aid Society, as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, as a member of the National Council of Alcoholism, Kansas City area, as Chairman of the Board of Niles Home for Children, and as a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Heart of America United Way Campaign.

He will long be remembered for his compassion, generosity, kindness, and deep devotion to his family.

Visitation will be held from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, Friday, September 8, 2023, at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. No services will be held.