James-H-Clark- A great story begins with a great failure

A great story begins with a great failure

 James-H-Clark

Clark was suspended from high school for misbehavior, but went on to earn a PhD in computer science — and revolutionize computer and the Internet technology.

He is the father of computer graphics and, as co-founder of Netscape Communications, a pioneer of Internet web surfing. He also sparked the dot.com boom on the US stock market during the 1990s, and is widely considered a genius.

Clark had a difficult childhood. His father was reportedly an alcoholic and a wife abuser, and his parents divorced when he was about 14. Clark and his brother were supported by their mother on a Meagre salary and Clark severed ties with his father.

At high school, Clark once smuggled a skunk into a school dance. And when an English teacher scolded him for failing to read a poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Clark told her to go to hell. He was suspended for setting off a smoke bomb on the band bus.

Clark eventually joined the Navy. After nine months at sea, he took a Mathematics test and scored the highest marks. He returned to studying, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics and a doctorate in Computer Science, and became a university professor.

Clark’s research enabled computers to display graphics quickly. He founded Silicon Graphics and the company become a world leader in movie special effects, such as those seen in Star Wars.

In 1994, after falling out with Silicon Graphics, Clark happened to e-mail Marc Andersen, a 22-year-old software whiz who developed the Mosaic Web browser. Together, they founded Netscape — and thus began the Internet revolution.

It's very hard to explain to people who don't program, but the object-oriented programming system made programming the Mac and iPhone so easy.
-James-H-Clark