Mark L. Murdock

Born in Chicago on July 30, 1941, Mark was the only child of Myrtle Cone and Orrin Leigh Murdock. He became a Texan at six months old when his family moved to Fort Worth. After attending South Hi Mount Elementary, Stripling Junior High, and Arlington Heights High School, his next stop was Texas Tech in Lubbock where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree. Mark was on the All-University Intramural Football team, elected Varsity Cheerleader, enjoyed his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, and was bowled over by a cute, smart sorority girl from Houston, his future wife of 61 years.

A married man now, Mark’s next stop was Austin, where he worked as a draftsman for the City of Austin and simultaneously went to the University of Texas Law School and earned a Juris Doctor degree. After graduation, he began a 30-year career with IBM (the company known in those days as “I’ve Been Moved”).

Off he went to Washington, DC, Bethesda MD, Gaithersburg, MD, Owego, N.Y., Kingston, N.Y., and finally to Austin, Texas, where he made his long time home.

In Owego, NY, Mark worked as the in-house counsel for IBM’s Federal Systems Divisions where he steered the development of the IBM/4Pi avionics computers which were used on applications such as the Boeing F-15 Eagle Fighter, the NASA Skylab, and the Space Shuttle.

He ultimately retired in 1997 as Site General Counsel at IBM’s Austin manufacturing and development facility. He was elected to the Texas Tech Mechanical Engineering Honorary Academy and included in the National Science Academy ICORPS Accelerator. After retirement from IBM, Mark joined the law firm of Thompson and Knight, LLP where he specialized in corporate law and business development. Retiring again (a bona fide workaholic), Mark continued to mentor and coach early-stage technology ventures at UT Austin, Texas Tech, St Edward’s, Baylor, and Rice, especially enjoying judging business plan competitions. Mark is recognized as a Life Fellow of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Bar Foundation.

Mark lived a big, grateful life. He met a lot of fine people, went to a lot of interesting places, worked hard, laughed often, and loved fiercely. He was a devoted son, strong and gentle husband, larger-than-life, revered father and grandfather, honest and ethical attorney, committed Christian, and loyal friend.

To his grandkids, he was known as Papa. To his kids, he was known as Dad. To many others, he was known as “Big Mark”. Big Mark fit him so perfectly because he was a big man with a big heart, a big appetite, and a big family who all loved him dearly. Along the way, Big Mark earned additional monikers from the teammates/friends of his grandkids who called him “MM1”, “MM Senior”, and his favorite “#1”.

He fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he kept the faith. Now there is in store for him the crown of righteousness.

He is preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife, Janet Hetherington Murdock, four children, Amy, Mark, Jennifer, and Megan, and a growing legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Amy lives in Houston with her husband Bo Huggins, and their children are Pete, Tyler, Ben, Kristen, Jake & his wife Caitlyn and their children, Kate, Madilyn, and Nolan. Mark Jr. lives in Houston with his wife Jenny, and their children are Mark III, Drew, and Turner. Jennifer lives in El Paso with her husband Bobby Underhill, and their children are Robert, Elizabeth, Sarah, James, Abby, and Megan. Megan lives in Austin with her husband Glenn Behrens, and their children are Reagan, Brittany, and her husband Mike Kelleher.

A memorial service honoring “Big Mark” will be held at Austin Baptist Church, 7016 Ribelin Ranch Drive, Austin, TX 78750 on Friday, June 20th at 11:00 AM.

If you’re thinking about how to honor Mark, here’s one way: help someone younger than you, enjoy some good Texas BBQ (or ANY DESSERT, but be sure it has sufficient Blue Bell on top of it), and if you are going to do something, do it right. That’s how he lived his life from start to finish. Memorial contributions may be made at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/