Elvis Carbon Copy

Library staff had a poignant interaction with the former fiancee of Clark Duller (aka Clark Dullere), a Janesville teenager from the late 1950s who bore a striking resemblance to "The King," Elvis Presley. Dianne and her cousin came in to the library to see if there was a way they could look at past newspaper articles about Clark. The Oooos and Ahhhs that emanated from our microfilm room got the attention of a reference librarian, who realized a search could also be conducted on the database Access Newspaper Archive, available through the state website Badgerlink.net. Once his name was entered, we discovered an article published on April 13, 1957, about his strong resemblance to Presley that Dianne and her cousin had found on the film.

They were at the reference desk when we discovered another article, dated Good Friday, April 4, 1958, with the headline "Janesville Motorcycle Rider Killed". Dianne said she was secretly engaged to Clark Duller, who at the time of the crash was seventeen and Dianne was sixteen.

We also found a longer article that included his obituary in the Janesville Daily Gazette dated April 5, 1958. Clark was on his way to see her when his motorcycle went off County Trunk M near Evansville. With tears in her eyes, Dianne thanked us and said "You never forget your first love."

Anyone who would like to share information, recollections, or memories about this story, please contact the staff at the Hedberg Public Library at 608-758-6581.
posted 10/14/2011 by DM