Mark Powell

Mr. Powell was great professor that influenced many, many students. During the early 80s, I took all of his geography courses at Pierce. Every one of them was very inspiring. Ultimately, I was encouraged to, and followed in his footsteps by earning a BA and MA in Geography myself. I am forever grateful to Mr. Powell.

Keep Climbing Higher.

During the middle 70s, 77-79,I took every class Mr. Powell taught at Pierce. I was very interested in geography, loved his classes. Weather was the toughest. He was a tough, but fair instructor. His observations and amusing stories were spot on and often hilarious. I remember his "fear of flying" too. Being married to a private pilot and lover of all things aviation-related, I asked him why? I also stated, "Mr. Powell, if you're number is up, you're going!" And he stated, "But what if the...

I knew Mark quite well. I was a student of his, and worked for him at Pierce College. A truly wonderful, talented, and intelligent man! I will miss him terribly!!!

I attended Pierce J.C. from 1970-1972 and took every geography class offered. Therefore my instructors were Mark Powell and John Dewey. Both of these gentlemen were really fine instructors. No nonsense and they tested on what they lectured. Professor Powell was kind of a character. He would often tell us about his climbing experiences and his first attempts at his own college education, when his first term paper was returned to him in a shoe box torn into pieces. His classes started...

I was a student of Professor Powell’s in 1980 or ‘81, possibly as early as the Autumn semester of 1979. Although his compliments and encouragements at that time took place during what must have been mere moments all those decades ago, they still loom much larger in my mind and life. His was a larger-than-life personality that occupies a proportionate slice in my memory.

As I sit listening to the rain this morning in New Zealand, another random memory of Mr. Powell crossed my mind...

I just happened on this notice of Professor Powell’s passing. I can truthfully state the he was a tremendous influence on my life through his lectures! Though many years have passed I can still remember so clearly his style. He will be missed!

Mark was my favorite instructor I ever had. I attended Pierce to satisfy my family, but every semester, i took a class of his. He had a style. He always addressed all of us as Mr or Miss, even tough we were all 18 to 22. He showed and commanded respect in a beautifully formal and casual way. He was a captivating personality that tested us on what he lectured. He lectured and loved teaching us and i loved learning the interesting stuff he taught. He never bragged about his climbing history but...

Mark gave his best effort to any of his endeavors.