Clinton Howard Groves

April 22, 1941 - November 9, 2021

Anyone who had the pleasure of spending time around Clinton Groves likely learned a thing or two about OU football, horse racing, or diagramming sentences. His wit was truly remarkable- you could count on him to deliver a perfectly timed joke without fall, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better-kept lawn than his. Clinton was born in Byers, Texas on April 22, 1941, to Charles and Corene Groves. He graduated from Del City High School in 1959 and achieved his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central State University in 1963 and 1966. He was enormously proud of his 35-year teaching career in Mid-Del Schools. He was dedicated to all aspects of Jarman Junior High, starting first as an English teacher and coach (it’d be easier to name a sport he wasn’t involved in at some point), and then becoming Assistant Principal and Principal, where he led for 25 years. He answered to many names throughout his life: Husband to his wife, Daddy to his daughter, Boppy to his granddaughters, Mr. Groves to his students, Principal Groves to some intimidated Junior High Schoolers, and “What’s the Score?” to everyone who knew he’d have the answer. His many talents included recalling statistics from every OU game in recent decades, explaining how to identify infinitives as objects prepositions, admiring the sport of bull riding, listening to the Sports Animal radio for seemingly more than 24 hours a day, and being extremely selfless toward the many women in his life who loved him dearly. He passed away at the age of 80 on November 9, 2021. He will be deeply missed and survived by his wife Kerry; his daughter and her husband, Stephanie, and Mark Michaud; his adored granddaughters, Taylor and Jenae Michaud; his sister, Sylvia Harper; his sister and brother-in-law Carolyn and Gary Trook, and numerous nieces and nephews. A family service will be held. It is only fitting to end with this, a piece of advice Clinton gave to an unassuming nurse shortly before he passed: “Don’t end a sentence with ‘at’.”