Clark Hubbs, who was a leading researcher and expert in ichthyology, the study of fish, died on Sunday of colon cancer. He was 86.
Hubbs took a job as an instructor of zoology at the University of Texas in 1949 where he served as professor and department head before he received emeritus status.
"He was tough, but it was an outstanding class. He knew his topic very well," said Audley Gaston, a student in Hubbs' comparative anatomy class at UT in 1961.
Hubbs learned the study of fish as a child in Michigan from his naturalist parents, Carl and Laura Hubbs, who would give out an allowance to their children based on the specimens they collected during family field research trips. He went on to receive his bachelor's of zoology in 1942 from the University of Michigan and his doctorate in zoology from Stanford in 1952.
Between completing his bachelor's and doctorate, Hubbs served as a topographical draftsman and aerial photo interpreter in the 96th Infantry during World War II.
While at UT, Hubbs published more than 300 articles and contributed extensive collections to the Texas Natural History Collections section of the Texas Memorial Museum. He also served as president of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Texas Academy of Sciences, Texas Organization for Endangered Species, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists.
Hubbs was very active in the scientific and conservational communities, said Dean Hendrickson, a curator at the Texas Memorial Museum and assistant professor of integrated biology.
"He would dedicate a lot of time to naturalists and conservational causes," Hendrickson said. He and Hubbs were members of the Desert Fishes Council.
Besides having a long, distinguished career, he was known by many for his large collection of fish-related apparel.
"He was one of the few professors that I can remember as an undergrad. You could tell he was so excited about his work, and he was such a good
teacher," said Kimberly Nixon, an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Kentucky, who was a student of his in 1990.
Three species of fish now have been scientifically named after Hubbs, and he still holds the record for most severe blue crab pinch - a hole through his right calf muscle that hindered his field work for six months.
An informal, open reception and celebration of Clark's life will begin at 6 p.m. Friday in the atrium of the J.J. Pickle Research Campus Commons at 10100 Burnet Road.
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