Born, Toccoa, Georgia, August 9, 1955. Graduated, BS Chemical Engineering, cum laude, University of Tennessee 1981, Doctor Jurisprudence, cum laude, University of Tennessee 1985. Admitted to practice as Registered-Certified Patent Lawyer with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 1986, Admitted United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for The Federal Circuit, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth US Circuit Courts of Appeal, US District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Tennessee and numerous other federal District Courts, Admitted to Practice in Tennessee before the Tennessee Supreme Court 1985 and all other courts of the State of Tennessee. Member The Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court (Knoxville area) and ABA, TBA, and numerous other legal, professional, and technical organizations. Frequent speaker/presenter of topics involving Patent/Intellectual Property Law and practice to bar and professional/civic groups. Varsity College football, avid golfer. Married 30 years to Ellen, born Paduca Kentucky 1959; BS Nursing University of Tennessee 1982. Mark and Ellen have four children, Kathleen, Laura, Tyler, and Eric.