Clark R. Mollenhoff was born in 1921 in Burnside, Iowa and attended schools in Lohrville, Algona, and Webster City. While in high school he played center on the Webster City High School basketball team. He graduated from Webster City Junior College and took a job writing for the Des Moines Register in 1941. During the time he was writing for the Register, he received a law degree from Drake University in 1944. While at Drake, he played on the football team as a lineman. He was named Captain of the team one year.

After graduation, Mollenhoff served in the U. S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. Then he returned to the Register where he became an investigative reporter. He left the Register to study at Harvard from 1949 to 1950. Then he began as a Washington correspondent for the Register. Mollenhoff won his Pulitzer Prize in 1958, two years after MacKinlay Kantor's prize. Mollenhoff's award was given for his investigation into labor racketeering. His 12 books include Washington Cover-Up, Game Plan for Disaster, and The Story of Jimmy Hoffa.

Mollenhoff returned to Webster City in 1966 to address the last graduating class of Webster City Junior College. The next year, the college was incorporated into the community college and became the Iowa Central Community College in 1967.

Mollenhoff was the deputy counsel and special counsel to President Richard M. Nixon from 1969. He resigned this position in 1970, returning to the Register as bureau chief. He became one of Nixon's sharpest critics during the Watergate era.

In 1988, Mollenhoff became involved in honoring Edwin Lempke for his herioc World War II exploits. He composed "The Ballad to Private Edwin Lempke" that was later set to music.

Mollenhoff always admired the works of MacKinlay Kantor, following in his footsteps. He also credited Miss Swanson, high school journalism teacher, for nurturing his interest in writing. Mollenhoff died od cancer at age 69 in March of 1990.

In 1976, Kantor and Clark R. Mollenhoff were honored by the naming of the Kantor-Mollenhoff Plaza in West Twin Park. This was a part of our Bicentennial celebration. Both men were present for the unveiling.

In 1989, the city named two streets for these famous authors. MacKinlay Kantor Drive was located at the west edge of the city, Clark R. Mollenhoff Drive was located at the east edge. Mayor Vic Hisler commented at the time that these two streets serve as the bookmarks of our city.