ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s fair to say that Florida fascinated Jim Clark.

The UCF senior lecturer, historian, newspaper editor and writer made the Sunshine State the focus of his career, authored about a dozen books, including several that celebrated Florida’s rich and often strange history, and his knowledge of Central Florida could delve into details that few know, unless you are a native of the state. And so many people are not.

Dr. Jim Clark died last week of an apparent heart attack in his Orlando home. He was 78.

Clark grew up in Maryland and got his history degree at Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1975 before coming to Orlando to work for the Orlando Sentinel in 1976, where he held several jobs on staff, including deputy managing editor, for 22 years.

He joined the history department at t

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