Written By WRAL-TV Documentary Producer Clay Johnson
I first met Mark when I was a reporter in this market around 1990. We'd cross paths on stories from time to time.

After he left WRAL in 1999, I hired Mark to work with me on a wide variety of freelance projects over the next few years.

One project took us around the country, to Louisville, Rochester, Minneapolis, Sacramento and twice to Los Angeles. On that second trip to LA, Mark and I shot a public service spot with actor Ed Asner. He and Mark really hit it off.

Afterwards, as he would often do, Mark wanted to take time to explore and do some sightseeing. As we were heading down Sunset Blvd we saw what looked like a movie being shot in front of Groman's Chinese Theater. We parked to go check it out. As we walked down the sidewalk Mark spotted Harrison Ford walking down the street beside us.

The next thing we know we're standing in a crowd of people in front of Groman's. We had unwittingly walked into the middle of the set of Ford's new movie "Hollywood Homicide".

Mark noticed that everyone around us had green wristbands on, so he suggested we hide our wrists. I pulled my shirt sleeves down and Mark put his hands deep into his pockets. When the director began talking to the crowd we realized we were to play panicked citizens on the street in a shoot out. When the director yelled action and the gunshots started, Mark and I ran with the crowd down the street.

We did that on two takes, but as security kept moving around the crowd checking for wristbands we realized our jig would probably be up soon.

So, on the third take, after the gunshots, we ran with the crowd again, but when the director yelled "cut", Mark and I kept running down the street and turned a corner out of sight, laughing all the way.

Mark got such a kick out of that. It really demonstrated his fun-loving and adventurous spirit.

He also had a terrific sense of humor. There are countless times when Mark would bring me to tears with laughter with just a simple wry and dry comment under his breath that no one else could hear.

He was a great guy. He loved people. He loved his family. And he loved his work. He loved the adventure and new experiences that his work brought him.

He was tremendously successful as a freelance photographer and SteadiCam operator, working on television shows, sporting events and motion pictures. He was in great demand, which is not only a testament to the high quality of his work, but also to what a great person he was to work with.

But as much as Mark loved his work, there was nothing Mark loved more than his family. As hectic as his work was and as much traveling as he did, when there was a break in his schedule Mark would always find time to make the long drive to Tennessee to spent time with his parents.

I can't imagine the loss they must feel right now. I never met them, but I'm going to tell them what a terrific person I thought Mark was and how important he was to so many people back here in North Carolina.

I hope others who knew Mark will do the same.