Roy S. Mark

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University of Texas

Roy Mark Obituary

MARK ROY SUTTLE MARK (Age 59) Of Washington, DC, died May 21, 2010 in hospice. Roy covered NASA, government IT policy, wireless products and FCC/broadband issues for eWeek, a technology industry newspaper. Born in Houston, Texas, Roy began his journalism career in high school as editor of the school newspaper and a stringer for the city paper, The Victoria Advocate. He was an Eagle Scout. He graduated in 1972 from the University of Texas, where he was sports editor, and then worked for the Austin American Statesman as sports editor and columnist. He was a sports columnist and feature writer for the Memphis, Tenn., Commercial Appeal, where he covered the funeral of baseball great, Dizzie Dean. Later, Roy became the publisher of the West Lake Picayune, in Austin, Texas. He worked for the Texas Real Estate Commission, later publishing a real estate industry newsletter focusing on regulatory issues. Roy was press secretary for Texas state Sen. Bill Patman. Roy also taught computer skills and served as the Washington Bureau Chief for Internetnews.com. Roy was an avid baseball fan and the author of "A.G. [Spalding] and Johnny [Ward]: the Founding of Baseball''s First Pro League." Roy is survived by his parents, Jo Ann and Roy Mark of Victoria, Texas; a sister, Glynda Martin, of Pleasanton, Texas; and a brother, Boyd Mark, of Carlsbad, CA. He was divorced from Carolyn Bingston. A memorial wake will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, May 30 at Angles Bar, 2339 18th St., Washington, DC.

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Published by The Washington Post on May 28, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Roy Mark

9 Entries

Danny Wright

January 3, 2011

Roy was my best friend in high school. We were on the high school newspaper together. Though we were roommates at UT for one semester, we ran in different circles related to our majors. He was always fun to be with and always so humorous. I appreciated the time I got to spend with him. I also know that he had a great family, too. I know I really liked his mom and dad, though I wondered if Roy’s claim that his father really did bite was true…
My wife and I saw him a few years ago, and he was the same ol’ Roy. He was really my best, best friend, and I join his family in mourning his loss. He was a good man.

Carol Lee

June 9, 2010

I have fond memories of Roy and I in Victoria College the summer after graduating from VHS. It was a Texas Government class . Roy kept me in stitches giggling through most of it. He was very witty and had wise cracks to lighten up what was a pretty dry subject. One thing I remembered when I read some of the others memories was that he was trying to gain weight. In fact he was under doctors orders to drink one beer each night before going to bed. This always struck me as funny- What a great doctor. Our paths never crossed again but I just had to share how much I enjoyed his company and what a fun guy he was to be around.

June 4, 2010

Roy was a classmate of mine at Victoria High School when we were still "Stingarees". He was smart, funny and always had a smile. We lost touch over the years but I have never forgotten his quick wit and cheerful demeanor. Roy will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know him. I'm sure he's keeping the angels entertained by now!

Jim Beam

June 4, 2010

Roy, as an Eagle Scout, served as Lifesaving Merit Badge Instructor in March 1969 for me and my brother Chris Beam at the YMCA pool in Victoria, TX. He worked us hard with conditioning swims because of serious nature of the requirements. We completed the merit badge and went on to earn our Eagle Scout Rank. We are grateful that he gave back to the Scouting program.
Jim Beam....Spring, TX.

Ricy Lenz

May 31, 2010

I was deeply saddened to hear that Roy
had passed away. I had known Roy since
Crain Jr. High. We went to Victoria
High School together. He was always had a big smile and wonderful personality. He did such a fine job at
VHS as the sports editor of the school
newspaper. He will be greatly missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with your
family.

Ricky Lenz

Joel Dunn

May 28, 2010

I have known Roy for many years in Houston. I enjoyed drinking with him and friends at a local pub we named the Bucket of Blood for its solid red benches. Roy and I spent time making soap at my home. He said now I can tell my friends I have boiled suet for soap. When I traveled to Washington for business he would put me up and we would toast the town on my expense account. He was a good, kind person that was easy to respect. I am pleased that I had one last conversation with him a few weeks before he passed away. It was difficult for him to talk, but we briefly talked about his time hanging with Ann Richards before she became Governor of Texas.
Oh did you know he was at a barbecue with LBJ, the one time President of the US. Oh, Roy was at a function in Austin where he opened the car door for Governor Connely; being mistaken as the help he was tipped a dollar by Connely. Roy was ammused by that one and kept the tip. Yes Roy Boy got around and now he has moved on to a new adventure. I miss our chats and you Roy.
- Joel

Kirtsten Skinner

May 28, 2010

Roy, will be sadly missed.. I remember when I met him as a teenager, he was a co-worker of my mom's who would come over after work on Friday nights and sometimes not leave until Saturday afternoon. The conversation was always fun and I learned a lot sitting and listening to the conversations into the wee hours of the morning. He loved my sister and myself as if we were his own children. He was always knew just what to say and when to say it, even if you didn't want to hear it. :) I love you Uncle Roy!

Ruth Dunn

May 28, 2010

Years ago, I visited Roy Mark in DC. It was the coldest July I have ever seen, and on one rainy day, as we left his flat in Arlington, while walking down the stairs, he grabbed my hand, did a little soft shoe shuffle and began to sing “Singin’ in the Rain.” We danced, not well, but we danced down the stairs and down the block: “just like Fred and Ginger” he said. I was wearing tennis shoes that would not stay tied, and Roy, many, many times that day, graciously knelt and tied my shoes.

That was Roy—kind, funny, decent, sometimes cynical, always ready to help out a friend, always ready with a story. Roy was one of the great tellers of tales—all of them true—about the moments of his life. He could spin a yarn with the best story tellers; he was a humorist right down to the bone. I have never known anyone who was so naturally funny and so naturally able to find humor in almost any situation. While researching his book, AG and Johnny, he spent some time in the Library of Congress in their special collections reference section and found humor even in those experiences.

He is deeply and profoundly missed. No one who met him could forget him and he touched the lives of so many people in so many positive and loving ways. Farewell my friend, farewell.

Rebecca Lieb

May 28, 2010

A valued and almost excessively generous colleague. I'll miss you, Roy - and my deepest sympathies to your loved ones.

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