Stephen Marks
LIEUTENANT COLONEL STEPHEN C. MARKS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Stephen C. Marks was born March 18, 1920, in Stanley, Wisconsin. In 1939 he joined the Wisconsin National Guard and was federalized on October 14, 1940. He served in the U.S. Army 32nd Infantry Division as a Chemical Supply Officer in the South Pacific Theater from October 1942 until his discharge as a major in April 1946. While in the South Pacific he saw action in New Guinea and the South Philippines, receiving the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two bronze stars, the American Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star, and the Victory Ribbon.
He joined the Army Reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel on March 18, 1980. Steve attended the University of Wisconsin at River Falls and received a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education in 1947. Following graduation, he was an instructor in the “on-the-farm” training program for returning veterans at the vocational and adult school in Madison, Wisconsin.
After four years of teaching, he became the state supervisor and farm service director with a commercial firm serving farmers. In 1954 he returned to school, enrolling in the Universityof Wisconsin at Madison for graduate study in extension education. He graduated in 1955 with a master’s degree.
From 1955 to 1956 he worked for Riverside County in California, and in 1956 came to Oregon State College as an associate professor and extension agricultural economist in the Department of Agriculture Economic. He served in that capacity doing marketing analysis and outlook until his retirement in October 1980. Steve belonged to the OSU 25 Year Club, the University of Wisconsin Alumni Organization, OSU Beaver Club, Corvallis Country Club, the Elks, Saint Mary’s Church, the Military Officers Club of Corvallis, and the Spinning Antlers Square Dance Club. His hobbies ncluded dancing, golfing, traveling, gardening, woodworking, and reading.
His travels included an annual trek to Hawaii for the winter, as well as the British Isles, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Bahamas. Steve passed away on January 11, 1997, survived by his wife, Helen, whom he had married in 1975. He had five children from an earlier marriage. This scholarship is funded by family and friends who are committed to helping ROTC students receive their degree and a commission in the U.S. Army.