 |
| Dr. Karl Clinard in his front office at Somerset with four wild game trophies on thewall behind him. From left are a Canadian moose; a Banteng wild cow from northern Australia; an Antelope from Wyoming; and a Gymsbock from Africa. There is a story with every one. For instance the Benteng is the most rare animal he has ever hunted. They were about a hundred miles from the nearest road, walking through crocodile infested waters where everything that can bite or sting waits for you. (Campbellsville University Photo by Linda Waggener) |
By Linda Waggener, marketing and media relations coordinator
SOMERSET, Ky. — Somerset dentist Dr. Karl Clinard is among the newest trustees at Campbellsville University (2012), and has become a mainstay of community support for CU’s developing education center in Pulaski County.
At the recent “Campaign for the Commonwealth” dinner at CU’s Noe Education Center, Clinard agreed with Anne Adcock, director, who said, “This new Somerset center is worthy of support because we’re touching people here who wouldn’t otherwise have a place for local Christian higher education.”
 |
| The most prized trophy, the rare Snow White Mountain Goat, hangs on their wall at home. (Photo by Renee Clinard-Pyles) |
Clinard said Somerset is a fast growing community and adults who wish to further their degrees simply have no time to go and live on campus. Campbellsville University is the only Christian college to locate a facility in Somerset and Clinard believes giving adult students the option to complete degrees without leaving home is meeting a big need.
“Because of CU,” he said, “talent may stay in Pulaski County which otherwise might be lost by a student leaving home for an education.”
He speaks from experience on that as he left Scottsville, Ky. to get his degree and wound up not returning there to start his practice. His dental practice in Somerset and Columbia is anotherexample of a business lost to his hometown.
Clinard grew up in Scottsville, Ky. His father was vice president of development for Cal Turner, Sr., (Mr. Cal) in the building days of Dollar General Corporation, which originated in Allen County, Ky. but was relocated to Nashville. When he thinks of Mr. Cal, Clinard remembers anytime he was home from school, he wanted “Bo” (Clinard’s nickname then) to go rabbit hunting. “Mr. Cal would rather have wild rabbit than the best steak in Texas,” he said.
Clinard’s passion for hunting began in childhood and grew as he did. Today, his collections of wild game are legend. Many are mounted on the walls of his offices and his home. His wife, Tara, shares his love of hunting and the most prized trophy of all hangs in the stairwell at their Somerset home. They keep a book of all their hunts in the offices to entertain patients. He said he loves the way children study the animals when they come for dental work.
He said he only hunts in approved regions around the world and that no meat is wasted, most is donated to local people in need of food.
 |
He knows the laws of hunting just as he knows local laws. He has been a certified police officer for the years through completing his education and building his dental practice. He still answers the call anytime he is needed to help keep crime at a minimum and drugs and drunk drivers off the roads.
Clinard has taken a partner, Dr. Ryan Brown, who will allow Clinard to “be done with full time practice in December” after which he plans to do more of the things he loves, including the possibility of “a little more at CU.”
Those words were music to the ears of CU vice president for development Benji Kelly who said, “We need more Karl Clinards to help move CU forward. The energy and passion for Campbellsville University is contagious.”
President Michael V. Carter said, “Dr. and Mrs. Clinard were early-on facilitators of the new center in Somerset and inspired us all when they shared their belief in CU’s mission during the dedication of the Larry and Beverly Noe Center.”
 |
| Clinard with his partner, Dr. Ryan Brown. |
Clinard is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and received his DMD degree from the University of Louisville. He and his wife live in Somerset.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 studentsoffering 63 undergraduate options, 18 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.