The stern high school principal who inspired the movie Lean on Me has passed away.
What We Know:
- Joe Louis Clark roamed the hallways of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey, with a baseball bat and bullhorn in hand. The unconventional principal garnered national attention from critics and fans across the country and even inspired the 1989 film “Lean on Me,” starring Morgan Freeman.
- Last Tuesday, Clark’s family released a statement on his passing. He passed away at his home in Gainesville, Florida, and was “surrounded by his family when he succumbed to his long battle with illness on December 29, 2020.” He was 82-years-old.
- Aside from inspiring movie magic, Clark was also known for his dedication to no-nonsense discipline. Clark’s family stated that “In one day, he expelled 300 students for fighting, vandalism, abusing teachers, and drug possession and lifted the expectations of those that remained, continually challenging them to perform better.”
- According to CNN, Clark also published a book called, Laying Down the Law that documented his educational strategy at Eastside High School. He appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine in 1988 and hit television shows like 60 Minutes and The Arsenio Hall Show. Clark was even offered a policy advisor position at the White House by President Reagan but declined the offer because of his dedication to his students.
His legacy will live on through his children, Joetta, Hazel, JJ, grandchildren, Talitha, Jorell, Hazel, and all the students he mentored at Eastside High.
