Clarence Wilber Moody was born in Skidmore, Missouri, on September 24, 1892. His family moved to Kansas when he was twelve years old. In 1906, Moody began his newspaper career with the Ottawa Herald as a carrier. He stayed with the paper until 1927 working as reporter, city editor, and finally an advertising manager. His next job was as the advertising manager at the Chaute Tribune. He became the publisher of this newspaper in 1933. Moving to Iowa, Moody purchased the Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette in 1941 and became its editor/publisher. Active in Burlington community affairs, he was director of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and president of the Burlington Community Chest. Clarence Moody died in 1967.