Fabricating two careers into one
LAWTON - It was definitely a case of love at first sight. When Clarence Fortney was a young teenager, his father brought home a Hodaka Super Rat Motorcycle. His mother didn’t necessarily approve of the purchase, but it sparked a passion that fueled and propelled the 13-year-old into the exciting world of racing.
“It had a chrome gas tank and fenders and a red frame,” Fortney said. Well, he didn’t just “say” it. The tone in his voice confirmed it was definitely love at first sight. Within a short timeframe he decided he wanted to work at the House of Hodaka, formerly located in Lawton at the corner of 17th and Cache Road. So, he got on his bicycle and rode from his home on 16th and Lindy Ave. to interview the owner, Larry Pope.
“I asked him who swept his floor every day ... who emptied his trash every day ... who put his tools up? He said he did all that and asked me how much I would charge him to do it,” Fortney said. “I said a dollar a day. So, every day I rode my bike there and every Friday he gave me a five-dollar bill.” Pope eventually helped him get a motorcycle and introduced him to motocross racing.
“It became my habit,” Clarence said. “Something that most 13-year-olds couldn’t afford. My buddies were in their 20s.” “The guys I raced with were from around the Duncan and Chickasha areas. We all went to the same events each weekend. Parents were there so it was like they were parents to everyone. It was our motorcycle family. We camped at the racetrack and cooked hamburgers and corn-on-the-cob.”
He said his parents had a great consequence to hang over his head, if they needed it to discipline him.“I only missed one weekend,” Clarence said.
WELDING
Clarence said his interest in welding came about because it was something he could contribute to his motocross circle. As a junior at Lawton High School, he enrolled in the welding program at Great Plains Area Vocational Technical School (now Great Plains Technology Center) and in May of 1977 received his certificate.
He also graduated from LHS in 1977 and decided to work as a welder instead of rushing off to college. For about a year he worked for D & G Construction out of Geronimo. Also, around that time frame, Goodyear began building their tire plant in Lawton and Fortney went to work with Brown & Root as a Certified Pipe Welder.
A couple of seasoned co-workers encouraged Fortney, at the age of 19, to go back to school instead of making construction a full-time career. He enrolled at Cameron University in Lawton and declared a major of Elementary Education.
That major probably didn’t really come out of left field for a motocross guy and welder, as his late mother, Lou Ann Fortney, was a secretary for Geronimo Road Elementary School for 24 years until her retirement. In fact, Fortney said his first real, full-time job as a senior in high school was as a custodian at an elementary school on Fort Sill.
Welding, however, was always a strong bead in his career toolbox and in 1979 received a phone call to fill the position of Short-term Adult Welding Instructor, which he accepted. Through the years he became the Welding Instructional Assistant and then in August of 1981 became the Welding Instructor. “When I was called by the welding shop foreman and asked to take the night position to teach welding, I didn’t know if I could do it. He said, ‘Just teach people how to weld.’”
Although Fortney came to the educational career from industry and was a non-traditional teacher, he consistently focused on his own higher education classes. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and completed his Master of Education at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Also, after 20 years of night and weekend classes, his studies culminated with his Superintendent’s Certificate. All the while, his career had been advancing at GPTC. From Welding Instructor he became the Coordinator of Adult Training & Development from 1988 to 1994 and then Director of Adult Training & Development from 1994 until 2006. From there he advanced to the Director of Secondary Education and then Director of Instruction. In 2009, he was named Deputy Superintendent; a position he held until hired as the Superintendent in 2016. Fortney didn’t have to think too long when asked what his greatest challenge along the way has been. “Balancing work life and family,” he said.
PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS
Fortney’s Oklahoma roots run deep. His mom, Lou Ann [Lovett], grew up on a farm south of Temple. Her parents are the late C.O. and Mollie [Jarngin] Lovett. Lou Ann passed in February of 2014. His dad, David, grew up in Lawton, as part of a military family. His parents are the late J.C. and Martha Fortney. David passed in June of 2015.
Fortney’s paternal grandfather J.C. [Jesse Clarence] was a carpenter in the U.S. Army. Fortney said J.C.’s birth certificate noted he was born in Indian Territory. “I was a city kid, but I had a farm background,” Fortney said, indicating that he had the best of both worlds. He speaks fondly of his grandfather, J.C., who is his namesake. Fortney said one time when he told his name [Clarence] to someone, he was asked what he went by. He said he paused and said ... Clarence.
“I’m proud of that name. It’s my grandfather’s,” he said. J.C. grew up in Yale, which is in Payne County. “He was an older soldier during World War II,” Fortney said. “But, when the call of duty came, he went. He retired as a first sergeant (1SG).” Fortney remembered him as a strict disciplinarian. As a carpenter, J.C. kept a woodshop going after retiring from the Army. “You did things his way,” Fortney said. “He wanted me to be an engineer - the drafting, mechanical stuff. He was self-taught and didn’t have a degree.”
CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
Fortney and his wife, Sheree [Neal], have two children and four grandchildren. The couple has been involved in many civic activities and teach a Sunday School class together at their church. Today, Fortney is grateful for his close ties to the community and relationships that have been strengthened through service work.
“I remember when Jim Nisbett [former superintendent of GPTC] told me I needed to get involved in the community,” Fortney said. There was a pause and a look on his face that showed he might not have been overly enthusiastic about the idea. But, after years of civic involvement, Fortney is enthusiastic about the relationships that have been built. His list of involvement is extensive and begins in 1990 as a member of the Lawton-Fort Sill Community Education Council. From August of 1997 through May of 1999, Fortney served as president of that organization.
He has also served as president of the Oklahoma Department of CareerTECH, Program Administrator’s Group, and Board President of the Lawton-Fort Sill United Way in 2009. During the March 2007 - February 2008 United Way of Lawton Fort Sill campaign, Fortney served as chairman and is proud that he helped spearhead an effort that exceeded the organization’s campaign goal.
He has also served as a board member with the Leadership Lawton-Fort Sill Board and the Lawton-Fort Sill Armed Service YMCA Board. From January 2006 to 2010, Fortney was appointed by former Governor Brad Henry to serve on the Oklahoma Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. His current involvement includes the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee, Incoming Chairman, Board of Directors. Fortney has served on the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce Board since July 2008.
MENTOR
When Fortney was named GPTC’s seventh Superintendent in June of 2016 he noted in a press release that he had been associated with the school either as a student or teacher or administrator for over 40 years.
“I’ve been fortunate to have learned from several Great Plains superintendents, especially the past three superintendents, Kenneth Bridges, the late Jim Nisbett and Dr. Thomas. They were all fiscally conservative, student centered and focused on economic development. I highly value those same traits.” In the recent interview with Fortney, he spoke highly of Thomas, whom he considers a mentor.
CYCLING
Fortney hasn’t lost his passion for motorcycles (he owns two Harley-Davidsons and Sheree owns one), but he has turned to bicycles for exercise and recreation. He mentioned that on his upcoming birthday [Saturday, July 13] he was going to ride 60 miles with a friend to celebrate his 60th birthday. As for racing motorcycles, Fortney said, “In my mind, I do.”