Lonnie E. Clark's family was the first to occupy public housing in Champaign County. Lonnie went to fulfill his personal and community goals. During the 1960's, Lonnie participated in protect movements to integrate the employee workforce of Goldblatt's, Sears and J.C. Penny's Department Stores. Lonnie was one of the founders of the Frances Nelson Health Center, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the (OIC) Opportunities Industrialization Center, a member of the Committee that established "Black Mom's Day" weekend at the University of Illinois, and a former President of the Illinois Affirmative Action Association. As an Urbana, Alderman, Lonnie introduced legislation to designate Martin Luther King Jr.' s Birthday as holiday for the City of Urbana. Lonnie was co-owner and President of WBCP 1580 AM, the first African-American owned Radio Station in Champaign County. He passed away in 2010.