The first time I met Mark - it was on our recruiting trip to SEMO - we were both in High School and did not know very much about the recruiting game, etc. but the biggest thing I realized then (and the thing that stands out most), throughout the years and even today -- is that for Mark.... it was very simple.... he was pure friend, a best friend --- even from day #1, he was genuine and honest and most of all --- would do
anything in the world for a friend -- there were never a lot of times for glamour and "smoothness", but it was a great gift he had -- just to be Muncie.  Never a bad word -- always a smile -- and always there for a friend.  He truly loved us!  Whether you hadn't talked in a few weeks or what, you would always be able to pick up right where we left off.

My story is more of a generalization, but his sense of happiness and joy for life was in ever story we had -- from drinking beer on the Mississippi River to crying together in Spring Break over personal issues --- from winning the games together to getting into fights together -- whether he was coming to my home in Kentucky or we were going to spend the day on his boat in St. Louis -- he was always the same O'
Muncie!  One of the Best!

Shane Kennedy, friend and teammate

Jill and the rest of Mark's Family,

I just wanted to officially pay my respects. I have known Mark since we were 12 or 13... I have been a teammate and competitor with him throughout the years.

I first knew him as a competitor... We played, I think it was, in the Elk's League basketball in O'Fallon. The funiest memory of the of him then was him taking an in bounds pass... driving and making a beautiful uncontested lay-up right into the wrong basket! Which was great because it gave my team two points! :)

I went to North Jr. High with Mark, graduated FZN HS together and we even went to Southeast together (missing graduating together by a semester). We were never really close friends, but we were friends. And over the time I knew him there was never a better teammate or competitor.

I remember fearing for my life throwing baseballs back and forth with him at baseball practice in High School. And I saw him play pretty much every home game in football at SEMO.

I remember bumping into him at Enterprise some time after graduation; he was already employed there and I was vying for a job. I didn't take the job when offered.

The last time I spoke with him was at Maryland Yards in Maryland Heights. I guess it was about 6 months before he passed. We played a game of pool and chatted over a drink or two. We updated contact information, but as usual we would rely on the next time we bumped into each other which was about every 6 - 9 months.

I did not learn of his passing until weeks after it happened and the funeral had already occured. I was upset that I wasn't able to attend. I have been a friend of this Myspace page for a long time, but haven't acted on any of the events. I hope to change that in the future. I would like to assemble a team for the upcoming golf tournament, I will definitely try.

I wish that I had written the message much sooner. Anyway, I wanted to say hi and introduce myself. And wanted to wish the best of luck with this foundation... I can't imagine a better way to honor such a good guy!

Sincerely,
John Heidbrink

The 2010 Muncie Classic Golf Tournament results are in:

First Place: AGAIN for the 3rd straight year!!
Matt Ostrander, Matt Strasner, Don Ostrander & Rod Whittier

2nd Place Team: Dan Thieman's Team

3rd Place Team: Dan Stretch's Team

Read our latest Email Newsletter!

2008 Muncie Day was a great success!
Thanks to all who attended. View some of the pictures from Muncie Day at the Ball Park 2008 in our photo gallery..

The Foundation invited and provided tickets for 150 kids from Youth in Need and 50 kids from St. Charles Boys & Girls Club to attend our annual Day at the Ballpark. They all had a great time at a game they would not otherwise been able to attend.