Clark Durant
Encyclopedia
W. Clark Durant is co-founder and former CEO of the Cornerstone Schools (Michigan)
, a group of charter and independent schools in the inner city of Detroit. Durant was a Republican politician in the state of Michigan, and is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012.
in New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated in 1971 with an economics major. Durant was in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. He served 3 months of active duty at Fort Eustis, Virginia
in 1971, then went into the Reserves and was honorably discharged as a Captain. He received a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School
in 1976. Durant was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1976.
and then as a Vice President of the college in 1972-1973. Durant co-founded and started Imprimis
, a monthly speech digest with a 2010 circulation over 2 million, described by Salon.com
as "the most influential conservative publication you've never heard of". He also served as the first Director of Hillsdale's Center for Constructive Alternatives and established the Washington-Hillsdale Intern Program (WHIP). While at Notre Dame Law School
, Durant taught a Great Books
undergraduate course at Notre Dame.
In 1991, Durant was one of the co-founders of the Cornerstone Schools (Michigan)
with Cardinal Adam Maida. The Cornerstone Schools were founded as independent schools in the inner city of Detroit. Durant served as Chairman of the Board from 1991 to 2003, and CEO from 2003 to 2009. In 2009, he helped establish Cornerstone charter schools to increase public access to a Cornerstone education in Detroit.
In 1994, Durant was elected to the State Board of Education in Michigan, and served as President of the Board. In 1995, the Board passed a bold mission statement with a 7-1 vote, but which also drew criticism for using religious language, some drawn directly from the Michigan Constitution
and Northwest Ordinance
. Durant stepped down four years later, in 1999, to focus on education in Detroit through the Cornerstone Schools.
In 1995, Durant was named a Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News for his work in education.
In 2004, Durant created, and with Arnold Palmer
co-hosted The Turning Point Invitational golf tournament, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Palmer's 1954 victory of the U.S. Amateur at Country Club of Detroit. 26 other past winners of the U.S. Amateurs attended. The event raised over $6 million dollars in revenue, with proceeds benefiting the Cornerstone Schools and other charities, making it one of the most successful charity golf events ever. Palmer described the event as "the most incredible event I have ever been involved with in more than 60 years of golf, and I have been involved in a lot of them over the years."
Since 2005, the Detroit Tigers
have sponsored Be A Tiger For Kids, a charity event that has raised over $2 million for the Cornerstone Schools.
Durant has been a member of various educational boards and organizations throughout Michigan. Former and current positions include:
, Durant spent the first six years of his legal career defending low income people who could not afford a lawyer in a variety of civil and criminal matters.
In 1983, Durant was appointed by then Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole
as the bankruptcy trustee for the Ann Arbor Railroad
, a state-owned, state-subsidized railroad with approximately $100 million in debt and claims. He served as trustee from 1983 to 1988, turning the railroad into a profitable private-sector enterprise.
In 1984, Durant was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
and confimed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the board of the Legal Services Corporation
. He served as chair from 1984 to 1988.
From 1997 to 2001, Durant was Director of the Private Management Group at Munder Capital Management, an investment firm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Durant has been a Member of the Board of Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
From 1986 to 1988, Durant served as one of four national co-chairs of Jack Kemp
's presidential campaign.
In 1990, Durant ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, losing to current Attorney General of Michigan, Bill Schuette
.
At the request of Governor John Engler
, Durant ran for the Michigan Supreme Court, and later the State Board of Education.
Cornerstone Schools (Michigan)
Cornerstone Schools is a system of private Christian schools in Detroit, Michigan. It has its administration and one school on one PreK-8 campus, the Nevada Campus....
, a group of charter and independent schools in the inner city of Detroit. Durant was a Republican politician in the state of Michigan, and is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012.
Early life
Durant was born in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Tulane UniversityTulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated in 1971 with an economics major. Durant was in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. He served 3 months of active duty at Fort Eustis, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1971, then went into the Reserves and was honorably discharged as a Captain. He received a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
in 1976. Durant was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1976.
Education career and Cornerstone Schools
After leaving the military in 1971, Durant served as the assistant to the president of Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
and then as a Vice President of the college in 1972-1973. Durant co-founded and started Imprimis
Imprimis
Imprimis is the monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College, described by Salon.com as "the most influential conservative publication you've never heard of" and by Rush Limbaugh as "one of the best and most important publications that I read."-History:Imprimis was founded in 1972 by Clark Durant...
, a monthly speech digest with a 2010 circulation over 2 million, described by Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
as "the most influential conservative publication you've never heard of". He also served as the first Director of Hillsdale's Center for Constructive Alternatives and established the Washington-Hillsdale Intern Program (WHIP). While at Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
, Durant taught a Great Books
Great Books
Great Books refers primarily to a group of books that tradition, and various institutions and authorities, have regarded as constituting or best expressing the foundations of Western culture ; derivatively the term also refers to a curriculum or method of education based around a list of such books...
undergraduate course at Notre Dame.
In 1991, Durant was one of the co-founders of the Cornerstone Schools (Michigan)
Cornerstone Schools (Michigan)
Cornerstone Schools is a system of private Christian schools in Detroit, Michigan. It has its administration and one school on one PreK-8 campus, the Nevada Campus....
with Cardinal Adam Maida. The Cornerstone Schools were founded as independent schools in the inner city of Detroit. Durant served as Chairman of the Board from 1991 to 2003, and CEO from 2003 to 2009. In 2009, he helped establish Cornerstone charter schools to increase public access to a Cornerstone education in Detroit.
In 1994, Durant was elected to the State Board of Education in Michigan, and served as President of the Board. In 1995, the Board passed a bold mission statement with a 7-1 vote, but which also drew criticism for using religious language, some drawn directly from the Michigan Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
and Northwest Ordinance
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was an act of the Congress of the Confederation of the United States, passed July 13, 1787...
. Durant stepped down four years later, in 1999, to focus on education in Detroit through the Cornerstone Schools.
In 1995, Durant was named a Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News for his work in education.
In 2004, Durant created, and with Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
co-hosted The Turning Point Invitational golf tournament, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Palmer's 1954 victory of the U.S. Amateur at Country Club of Detroit. 26 other past winners of the U.S. Amateurs attended. The event raised over $6 million dollars in revenue, with proceeds benefiting the Cornerstone Schools and other charities, making it one of the most successful charity golf events ever. Palmer described the event as "the most incredible event I have ever been involved with in more than 60 years of golf, and I have been involved in a lot of them over the years."
Since 2005, the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
have sponsored Be A Tiger For Kids, a charity event that has raised over $2 million for the Cornerstone Schools.
Durant has been a member of various educational boards and organizations throughout Michigan. Former and current positions include:
- Member of the Board of U of D Jesuit (2001-2010)
- Member of the Visiting Committee of the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics at the University of Michigan
- Member of the Board of Excellent Schools Detroit
Legal and business career
After getting his law degree from Notre Dame and working at Hillsdale CollegeHillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, Durant spent the first six years of his legal career defending low income people who could not afford a lawyer in a variety of civil and criminal matters.
In 1983, Durant was appointed by then Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole
Elizabeth Dole
Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford "Liddy" Dole is an American politician who served in both the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush presidential administrations, as well as a United States Senator....
as the bankruptcy trustee for the Ann Arbor Railroad
Ann Arbor Railroad
The Ann Arbor Railroad was an American railroad that operated between Toledo, Ohio and Elberta and Frankfort, Michigan with train ferry operations across Lake Michigan.-History:...
, a state-owned, state-subsidized railroad with approximately $100 million in debt and claims. He served as trustee from 1983 to 1988, turning the railroad into a profitable private-sector enterprise.
In 1984, Durant was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and confimed by the U.S. Senate to serve on the board of the Legal Services Corporation
Legal Services Corporation
The Legal Services Corporation is a private, non-profit corporation established by the United States Congress. It seeks to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it...
. He served as chair from 1984 to 1988.
From 1997 to 2001, Durant was Director of the Private Management Group at Munder Capital Management, an investment firm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Durant has been a Member of the Board of Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Political career
Durant represented Michigan on the 1984 Republican National Committee Platform Committee where he helped draft the party platform on which President Reagan ran for and won his landslide re-election.From 1986 to 1988, Durant served as one of four national co-chairs of Jack Kemp
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp was an American politician and a collegiate and professional football player. A Republican, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, having previously served nine terms as a congressman for Western New York's 31st...
's presidential campaign.
In 1990, Durant ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, losing to current Attorney General of Michigan, Bill Schuette
Bill Schuette
William Duncan "Bill" Schuette is an American Republican politician and the current Attorney General of the U.S. state of Michigan.-Early life:...
.
At the request of Governor John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
, Durant ran for the Michigan Supreme Court, and later the State Board of Education.