Dr. Robert Nance Cluck

Today, the City of Arlington pauses to reflect on the life and service of former Mayor Dr. Robert N. Cluck, M.D., a transformative leader whose vision helped reshape the city’s skyline and bolster its economic strength.

Dr. Cluck, who was elected to two terms on Arlington City Council before serving as mayor from 2003 to 2015, passed away on April 14, 2026. He was 87. The City of Arlington will lower its flags to half-staff and keep its gateway monuments lights dark in honor of Dr. Cluck through April 29, 2026.

Dr. Cluck’s tenure was defined by bold milestones, most notably his leadership in bringing the Dallas Cowboys to Arlington and the 2009 opening of AT&T Stadium. He was known as a champion for public health and economic revitalization, steering the city through the development of the Arlington Highlands shopping center, Viridian masterplan community in north Arlington, and the rebirth of Downtown.

"Arlington has lost a true visionary. Dr. Robert Cluck didn’t just lead our city; he reimagined what it could be. His ability to build partnerships and see the community’s future potential fundamentally changed our trajectory,” Mayor Jim Ross said. “We are a more vibrant, competitive, and world-class city today because of his bold leadership and belief in Arlington. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as we celebrate a life exceptionally well-lived."

Born in Cisco on March 20, 1939, Dr. Cluck received a Bachelor of Science degree at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. After an internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital and residency at John Peter Smith Hospital, Dr. Cluck served in the U.S. Air Force for two years as a general medical officer during the Vietnam War at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

From 1971 to 1994, Dr. Cluck was in private practice as an obstetrician-gynecologist in Arlington prior to serving as vice president of medical management at Harris Methodist Health Plan and medical director at Arlington Memorial Hospital. He served as vice president of medical affairs at Texas Health Resources Arlington Memorial Hospital while also serving as mayor.

The concept of the Dallas Cowboys moving to Arlington was born in 2001, when Dr. Cluck, who was serving on the City Council at the time, reached out to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after hearing the organization might be interested in a new location. Dr. Cluck led the effort to bring the Cowboys to Arlington and open the iconic, retractable-roof Cowboys Stadium in 2009. That venue, now known as AT&T Stadium, attracts millions of visitors to Arlington each year to concerts, football games and other events and will host nine FIFA World Cup matches this summer.

During his time as mayor, Dr. Cluck was instrumental in the growing city’s vision for development and redevelopment. He saw the community’s potential as a thriving and competitive city of the future, and it was his ability to build collaborative partnerships that helped the city be a part of developments such as The University of Texas at Arlington’s College Park, the Levitt Pavilion and Downtown Arlington redevelopment. Dr. Cluck also led efforts to create the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, the city's largest charitable endowment, in 2007. He additionally worked on economic development initiatives to keep the Texas Rangers and General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant in the community.

With his medical background, Dr. Cluck placed strong emphasis on public health and public safety policy. He launched the CPaRlington program as a strategy to improve cardiac arrest survival in the city and implemented the Public Access Defibrillator program as part of that plan. He also started a Let’s Move with the Mayor fitness campaign in the Arlington Independent School District and initiated an extension of the City’s hike and bike trails, plus health and fitness programs offered for children and adults through the Parks Department’s Naturally Fun Neighborhoods Program.

He was also instrumental in organizing the Texas Cities for Clean Air Coalition, which brought North Texas mayors together to raise awareness on the important issue of air quality. The coalition successfully brought attention to the negative impact poor air quality can have on overall public health, and the important role energy conservation plays in improving air quality. In Arlington, numerous steps were taken to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, increase energy conservation and endorse regulations to reduce air pollution. During this time, the City Council also passed the most comprehensive green cement preference in the Metroplex, allowing Arlington to give a preference to vendors who utilize cement that was manufactured in a more environmentally friendly way.

Dr. Cluck served on various boards and commissions during his tenure, including the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Tarrant County American Heart Association, Salvation Army Youth Education Town Advisory Council, Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, The Women’s Shelter Board, Junior League of Arlington Advisory Board, Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arlington Technology Incubator, Tarrant County Water District Advisory Committee, John Peter Smith Hospital Advisory Board, Recovery Resource Council Advisory Board, North Texas Commission Clean Air Coalition, Texas Cities Clean Air Coalition, The University of Texas Metroplex Council, Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition, North Texas Commission Executive Board, Workforce Solutions Workforce Governing Board, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – Local Governments for Sustainability, U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board and its committees, including the Energy Standing Committee, the Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports and the Public Education Task Force.

He served as president of the Texas Municipal League and has also received the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Community Leadership Award in 2011. The award is given annually to individuals who improve the lives of residents within their community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities, fitness or nutrition-related programs.

As a tribute to Dr. Cluck and his influence on Arlington’s development, the City opened a 73.8-acre park in his honor in 2011. The Dr. Robert Cluck Linear Park, which features picnic areas, a bike/hike trail and ecosystem restoration area, is located on Johnson Creek between Randol Mill Road and Division Street east of AT&T Stadium.

In 2015, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones named the AT&T Stadium atrium the Mayor Robert N. Cluck Atrium in his honor. He also received the inaugural Arlington Visionary Award, created to honor citizens who have provided visionary direction for the tourism industry, during the 2017 Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau annual meeting.

Dr. Cluck is survived by his wife, Linda; daughters, Katherine Cluck Williams and Jennifer Cluck Bills; son. Robert Cluck, III; and grandchildren, Lindsay Hardesty, Robert Austin Williams, Michaela Cluck and Payton Cluck.