Arlington is saying goodbye to former mayor and longtime physician Dr. Robert N. Cluck, the civic fixture who died on Tuesday at age 87. Cluck led the city as mayor from 2003 to 2015 after two terms on the City Council, capping a decades-long run that left fingerprints on Arlington's parks, public-health efforts and booming Entertainment District.
In a post on X, the City of Arlington announced Cluck's passing and current Mayor Jim Ross called him a true visionary. As per the City of Arlington, “Dr. Robert Cluck didn’t just lead our city; he reimagined what it could be.” The city also listed survivors, including his wife Linda; daughters Katherine Cluck Williams and Jennifer Cluck Bills; son Robert Cluck III; and several grandchildren.
Today, the City of Arlington pauses to reflect on the life and service of former Mayor Dr. Robert N. Cluck, M.D., who was elected to two terms on City Council before serving as mayor from 2003 to 2015. He passed away on April 14, 2026. He was 87: https://t.co/Qkl5kIDN2k pic.twitter.com/Xm2oxcEgaF
— City of Arlington (@CityOfArlington) April 15, 2026
A Doctor Who Turned to Public Service
Cluck grew up in Cisco, then headed to Dallas for a Bachelor of Science at Southern Methodist University before attending medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern. He went on to serve as a general medical officer in the U.S. Air Force and later spent decades practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Arlington, according to Wikipedia. Those years in exam rooms and delivery wards helped make him a familiar face in both the medical community and neighborhood circles long before he ever held the mayor's gavel.
The city eventually put his name on the map in a literal way. Arlington honors him with the 73.8-acre Dr. Robert Cluck Linear Park along Johnson Creek, per the City of Arlington, a nod to his years of public service and his emphasis on wellness and outdoor spaces.
His Stadium Gamble Reshaped Arlington's Skyline
At City Hall, Cluck is widely credited with leading the push that brought the Dallas Cowboys to Arlington and cleared the way for the retractable-roof stadium that opened in 2009. It was a political and financial gamble that permanently altered the city's skyline and its Entertainment District identity.
The team later tipped its cap by naming the main entrance the "Mayor Robert N. Cluck Atrium" in 2015, according to the Dallas Cowboys. The stadium he helped land is not just a Sunday destination anymore. AT&T Stadium is scheduled to host nine matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, per Wikipedia, keeping the building and Cluck's legacy in the global spotlight.
Health, Fitness and Community Programs
Even in the office, Cluck never really stopped talking like a doctor. As mayor, he pressed for public-health and youth-fitness initiatives, including a "Let's Move with the Mayor" challenge in Arlington ISD that encouraged students to get active and track their progress. The Dallas Morning News chronicled that school fitness campaign, which tried to turn lectures about exercise into something closer to a community-wide game.
The city's announcement this week also credited Cluck with launching the CPArlington public-access defibrillator program and other community health efforts through his work with local partners, according to its post on X. Those pushes to improve cardiac-arrest survival and build healthier habits earned him civic awards and continued praise from regional leaders long after his last council meeting.
What Comes Next
City officials say they will share information about memorial services and public remembrances once plans are finalized. For the official statement and any future updates on how Arlington will honor its former mayor, residents are being directed to the City of Arlington news page.
