Dateline: December 18, 1959 – Baltimore – Event – Clayton King goes on a blind date that will change his life. On this momentous date, Clay met Veronica (or ‘Roni’ as she is known by family and friends). Little did they know this was the beginning of a journey that would change them forever.
Born in Orono, Maine, King’s family migrated to New Bedford where he graduated from New Bedford High School. He then went on to study at Providence College (graduated in 1959) and finally at the University of Baltimore’s School of Dentistry. He would be the first in his family to graduate from college. While at dentistry school, another student suggested that King go on a blind date with his girlfriend’s friend. That was when and where Clay met Roni. Fortunately for them, they both agreed to the date, and the rest is history.
Clayton and Roni married and eventually settled in Mattapoisett, where they raised their children Mike, Kathy and Dan (besides his children, King has five grandchildren). Almost from the beginning when he opened his dental practice, Clay or ‘Doc’, as he became known, began giving back to the community.
King would spend the next fifty- plus years working as a dentist in Mattapoisett while also working tirelessly for the community that he loved. “Clay is a driver … [developing] social events for couples at the Lions,” said Chuck McCullough, a good friend and long-time associate from the Lions Club. Bill Calusine, a fellow Lion said, “No one is more deserving [of the award] than Clay.” Calusine continued, “Besides pulling teeth … he made numerous contributions to the community.”
There apparently wasn’t an event or community need in the area in which the Doc hasn’t been involved. From membership on the committee that spearheaded a tri-town regional school district, to commercial endeavors with the development of an industrial park, to his participation in the Lions Club – in 1992, he was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow in recognition of his commitment to serving the world community – to his involvement with the Knights of Columbus and the soup kitchen at the Puritan Church in New Bedford, King was there. He never rested if there was a need or community activity that could benefit the people of the area. And he managed all of this while being a dental professional, as well as a devoted husband and father.
On December 6, the Massachusetts House of Representatives honored King with a Certificate of Appreciation for his work in aiding, assisting, and being an asset in the community he served. He received his award at the Sippican Nursing Home, where he is recovering from a recent stroke. It is a statement of the love and appreciation from his family, friends, and his community that many were present when R. Tyler MacCallister, Chairman of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen, presented the award conferred on King. King was smiling.
Friends and family gathered around King as he received this acknowledgment of his work, his desire to be an example of what is possible, and his desire to improve the lives of those around him by simply doing all he could, all the time.
“I’ve never seen him without a smile on his face,” said Barbara Saunders, who has worked with King at the soup kitchen at the Puritan Church in New Bedford. Donald Fleming said, “I’ve known him for fifty years!” and the fact that he was there to witness this award speaks volumes to King’s positive influence. But it was his families’ remembrances which struck the chord of what he truly means. His niece Beth Valliere said, “He is an amazing role model.”
His son Mike said, “Sometimes he was paid with vegetables or fish if the people couldn’t pay for their dental bills.” He didn’t turn anyone away.
By his side through it all has been his wife, Roni. Speaking on behalf of her husband, along with their daughter Kathy Goulart, they shared that he was the prime mover in establishing the annual Easter Egg Hunt at St. Anthony’s, various art auctions and antique evaluations through the Lions Club, and numerous events through the Knights of Columbus. He himself is a past King Lion. Goulart said, “He‘s probably hung over 200,000 posters…” indicating his devotion to and marketing know-how of the community events he was so committed to over the years.
The outpouring of love and support King received is a measure of the man whose work for the community has been unceasing and outstanding for decades.
By Marilou Newell
