Mark was born in Bell, California. He attended high school in the Inland Empire of that state where he met, and following a tour of duty in WW II, married Frances Mae Ferrell, his high school sweetheart.

Nine months later they had a daughter named Teddy, who currently resides in 29 Palms, California. He returned to the Marine Corps for a tour of duty in Korea. Shortly after his return the family moved to Eugene, Oregon where Mark attended the University of Oregon as a journalism major.