RIP: Mark Carleton
It is with much sadness I have to report to you the passing of Mark Carleton, a veteran city employee who worked tirelessly with all of the city’s MAPS programs and was just appointed two weeks ago to oversee MAPS for Kids as his boss, Eric Wenger, was moving into the position of the city’s public works director.
I’m told Carlton, 58, was proceeded by the death of his father just a couple weeks earlier. I first got to know Carleton while covering the original MAPS program in the mid-1990s. He was one half of the duo jokingly referred to as the “two Marks,” the other half being Mark Beck. Together they could conquer any challenge, quietly, efficiently, and with good humor.
Have no doubt, this is a loss for City Hall, downtown, and Oklahoma City as a whole.
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Comments
My heart is sick and heavy, missing my friend Mark. I started working for “The City” in the Water Department in 1988, in the office next to Mark. He taught me so much about public administration. He was my coworker, my friend and my confidant. We fussed over budgets at midnight with Melisa Rousey and ate laffy taffy until we were sick (of both the candy and the budget). He was among the most dedicated, honest, smart, dependable and fun city employees to grace the steps of City Hall. The City of Oklahoma City is a better place because of “Carleton”…
R.I.P. Mark. One of the “behind the scenes” heroes who have greatly contributed to renaissance of this city over the past two decades. I, for one, surely wouldn’t be where I am today without the efforts of the “two Marks.” But besides that, he was just a flat out nice guy; always a pleasure to run into at lunch or an event. He will be missed by a lot of people.