Mark Everett Halliday

Mark Halliday was born in Oakland, California on May 9, 1952 to Glenn and Barbara Kemmerich Halliday. His father's occupation as a computer programmer took the family to Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, and Doylestown, PA. where he graduated high school in 1970. In 1974 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

At graduation, Mark accepted a one-year scholarship to study drama in London. His interest in traveling to lesser-known parts of the world probably was kindled when he and a fellow drama student spent a school break at the monastic community atop Mt. Athos in Greece. When Mark decided that the likelihood of his becoming the next Richard Burton was slim, he enrolled in the Geophysics Masters program at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He received a Masters degree in Geophysics in 1978. Summer job experiences working on mineral exploration crews in the remote Brooks Range in Alaska led him to embark on a career as an exploration geophysicist. His career also involved software design and field-testing of various scientific instruments. In 1990 he became Chief Scientist at LaCoste and Romberg Gravity Meters in Austin, Texas. This involved land, sea and airborne trials of gravity meters, designing software used in operation of the gravity meters and providing on-site support to customers.

The nature of Mark's work took him to the far corners of the earth—Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Oman, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ethiopa, China and many more. He combined his profession with his love of adventure travel and shared many of his off-the-beaten path experiences with his wide circle of friends. They all attest to the life-changing trips they shared with Mark. To name just a few: A first descent by raft of the Mekong River in China; Manaus, on the upper reaches of the Amazon; Cambodia and Laos before the Khmer Rouge had entirely departed; Beijing to Moscow by train and plane; Cairo to Kenya in the back of an open truck.

Severe arthritis ultimately led to Mark's early retirement in 2004. He spent his last years close to his family in Portland, Oregon. Mark is survived by his mother, Barbara and sister, Karen Halliday. His father, Glenn, preceded him in death. He will be interred at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Angel, OR. He donated his estate to Willamette University where recognition will be given to the three generations of Mark's family who have attended Willamette. Donations to Willamette Univ. in Mark's name will be appreciated. He will be deeply missed.