Judge Harley Clark, man behind ‘Hook ‘Em Horns’ sign, dies at 78

Retired state District Judge Harley Clark of Austin died Thursday at the age of 78 at his farm near Dripping Springs. Clark was University of Texas’ head cheerleader in 1955 and student body president in 1957-58. He publicly introduced the now-famous “Hook ’em Horns” hand sign at the suggestion of classmate Henry “HK” Pitts. He went on to affect Texas education in other ways, most notably as a District Judge when in 1987 he wrote the decision in Edgewood I.S.D. v. Kirby, in which he found the system of financing public schools in Texas to be unconstitutional. The Texas Supreme Court upheld his opinion in 1989. He was also a member of the defense team on behalf of the University of Texas in the famous Hopwood v. Texas case.    Upon retirement, Harley became a full-time farmer on the Clark Farm, near Dripping Springs, where he raised and sold organic vegetables for local restaurants and grocery stores. (Photos courtesy of Cari Clark)