| Birth: |
Jan. 18, 1932 |
| Death: |
Feb. 4, 2009 |
Shepherd, Jr., Mark Retired Texas Instruments executive, engineer and business leader
Mark Shepherd, Jr. passed away peacefully at home in East Texas on February 4, 2009 surrounded by his family.
As a technologist, Mark assembled the team and provided the leadership that propelled Texas Instruments (TI) into the commercial mass production of transistors and laid the foundation for TI's success in semiconductors. As a manager, he provided the stimulus for people involvement concepts, recognizing that any corporation relies for its success on the creative genius and personal commitment of thousands of individuals. He shaped, counseled and motivated all who worked for him; he inspired, challenged and set standards for hard work, commitment and uncompromising integrity, the hallmark of his own personal and business dealings.
Born January 18, 1923 in Dallas, the son of a Dallas police officer and a gift shop proprietor, he discovered a passion for electrical engineering early in life. At the age of seven, this curiousity led him to build his first crystal radio. His fascination with electronics ultimately resulted in leadership positions at Texas Instruments from 1950 to 1993, culminating as its Chairman 1976-1988. In addition he served as President and CEO of the corporation. Upon graduation from Timpson, Texas High School, he began electrical engineering studies at the age of 14 at Southern Methodist University. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, an honorary Doctorate of Engineering, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southern Methodist University. As a co-op student during his undergraduate years, he worked as a surveyor on the crew that laid out Dallas' Harry Hines Boulevard, the Triple Underpass and several city parks. Following graduation from SMU at the age of 19, he held positions with General Electric until 1943 when he volunteered for service in the United States Navy and was assigned to the U.S.S. Tucson, specializing in electronics radar maintenance and was among the first U.S. military personnel to enter Japan.
While with General Electric in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mark met Mary Alice Murchland. They married in 1945 and are the parents of three children, Debra Shepherd Robinson and husband Rowland Robinson, MaryKay Shepherd, and Marc B. Shepherd and wife Teresa, grandparents of Kathryn Robinson Swail and husband Michael, Brooke Robinson Howe and husband Don all of whom survive him. He is also survived by three great grandchildren.
Mark and Mary made their home and raised their children in Dallas, during which time they shared many trips visiting TI facilities and employees around the world. In retirement, they have enjoyed a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico where family and friends visited often. Since1996 they have resided on their multi-acre ranch near Quitman, TX.
Mark received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Alumni Honor Award for Distinguished Service in Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. In 1948 on a trip to Dallas brought about by the death of Mark's father, Mark met with Pat Haggerty of GSI, the forerunner of TI, and was hired to join that company heading up its program on the magnetic anomaly detector. Over the years, the two developed an excellent working relationship and close friendship. About his long association with Pat, Mark commented, "He (Pat) was a very philosophical person. It was his vision of the future that led us into the electronics revolution." In 1984, reflecting at the time of his 40th anniversary at TI, Mark said, "Not many people in their lives have the opportunity - and the privilege - of helping to build not only a company, but also an industry that has had as profound an impact on society as the semiconductor industry. I am grateful for that privilege."
In 1962, he was selected by LIFE magazine as one of the One Hundred Most Important Young People in the Nation for his role in leadership in the then-developing electronics industry; he was a fellow in and member of the board of directors of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He is a recipient of the Horatio Alger Award. He has held numerous member- ships and activities with local, state, national and international organizations including The Business Council, The Conference Board, Dallas Citizens Council, SMU Board of Trustees, US-Japan Business Council and US-Korea Business Council. In addition to his membership on the board of TI, he served on the boards of FirstRepublicBank Corporation, USX Corporation and the International Council of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York.
Most importantly, Mark was an eminently devoted husband to his wife Mary Alice for sixty-three years. Their love was a joyous background for raising their children, as well as an inspiration to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Words cannot express how he will be missed.
Visitation will be Friday, February 6, 2009 at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Catholic Church Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 1:00 pm with a private interment to follow. Pallbearers will be Marc Shepherd, Shepherd Robinson, Robin Robinson, David Shepherd, Donny Howe, and Michael Swail. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Bucy, Jim Mitchell, Joel Allison, Dick Agnich, Bill Arrington, Dan Novakov, Tommy Chaddick, Boone Powell, Jr., John Hyland, Jerry Fronterhouse, Nathan Pennington, Mark Welker, and Rolf Haberecht.
Memorials may be made in Mark's name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research at UT Southwestern Medical Foundation or the Multiple Schlerosis Research at Baylor University Medical Center Foundation. |
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Burial:
Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park
Dallas
Dallas County
Texas, USA
Plot: Holly Estates |
Created by: BassetLover
Record added: Mar 16, 2013
Find A Grave Memorial# 106792885 |
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