Obituary Notices: James Clark, Capt. Paul Hayes Hight

James “Jimbo” Clark, 66, of Henderson, Ky., passed away May 13 at his home.

He had served as vice president of Ohio Valley Marine Services and customer service manager at Evansville Marine Service.

His memorial service was May 18. Tomblinson Funeral Home of Henderson was in charge of arrangements. Additionally, the Jimbo Clark Golf Scramble Memorial has been scheduled for August 29 at Bent Creek Golf Course in Henderson.

“Jimbo exemplified professionalism and integrity,” according to his official obituary. “His commitment to excellence was mirrored not only in his career but in the way he approached every aspect of life, with a steady hand and an open heart.”

Clark was born on February 15, 1960, and was the son of Garland “GB” Clark and Virginia (Foster) Clark. He attended Zion Baptist Church and enjoyed golf, traveling, gardening, coaching baseball and spending time with his family and his dogs.

He is survived by his wife, Denise Clark; two children, Jackson Clark of Lexington, Ky., and Jordan Clark of Evansville, Ind.; two stepchildren, Thane LaCaze (Hannah) of Henderson and Taylor Douglas (Sarah) of Henderson; two sisters, Judy Branson and Jan Hays (Claude) both of Henderson; seven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Capt. Paul Hayes “Tud” Hight, 90, passed away June 21 in Crump, Tenn.

He was born May 13, 1936, in Morris Chapel, Tenn., and was the son of Will and Devora Hight.

Hight began working on the river in 1956 for Horton and Horton on the Houston Ship Channel. He quickly earned a captain’s position, commanding the Maye, a 140 hp. single-screw wooden tug pushing wooden barges. By 1968, he was captain of the mv. American Beauty for its maiden voyage, transporting grain between St. Louis and New Orleans on the Mississippi River.

He earned his mariner’s license in 1969 at the Helena Maritime Academy.

Hight built a 40-foot steel-hull “bum” boat in his Savannah, Tenn., back yard with the help of his father-in-law between river trips. He operated the boat at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers for a time, selling cigarettes, candy and supplies to mariners.

In 1974, he moved his family to New Orleans, La., to take an office position operating the Kenner Bend Fleet. While there, he became a founding member of the Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association. In 1976, he joined the Associated Federal Pilots, piloting American-flagged steamships and ocean-going vessels between the Gulf and Baton Rouge. He served as both vice president and president of the association for many years. As president, he was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole to the board of the first Lower Mississippi River Safety Advisory Committee. While living in New Orleans, he also started a successful barge-washing and top-side repair business and bought a previously sunken supply boat, which he rebuilt himself and put into service working out of Morgan City. He owned and operated as many as eight open hopper barges.

Following a 1991 retirement, moves back to Tennessee and then to Colorado and jobs outside the river industry in real estate development and cash advance and pawn stores, he renewed his captain’s license at the age of 75 and began “tripping” on towboats again, working until his second retirement at age 83. Two years later, he went back to work, developing the Hardin Landing subdivision on the Tennessee River. He retired for the third and final time, at age 88, in 2024.

Hight loved taking road trips and drove through every U.S. state besides Hawaii.

“He loved to fish and hunt elk, but his absolute favorite pastime was playing poker,” according to his official obituary, which also praised his generosity to those in need.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Meta Koch Hight, his parents and four siblings.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cheryl Hight, along with children Debbie, Rodney (Donna), Paula (Vance); three grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

His funeral was to be held June 26 at Shackelford Funeral Directors, Savannah, Tenn., with burial at Milledgeville Cemetery in Milledgeville, Tenn.