Born and raised a Hoosier, 57-year old Mark J. Stine first came to Texas in 1968 in the U.S. Air Force. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Chemistry from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana (1974) and a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston (1981.)

He worked in cancer research at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and as an environmental chemist for the State of Texas in Austin until his retirement in 2003. He has served in many capacities in community, health and transportation planning and has traveled extensively across Texas during his career.

Mark and his wife, Clemmie Cummins, born in McAllen, Texas, have two grown children, Susannah and Joseph.

Mark has addictions to bicycle touring and the history of Texas trails, both of which he is trying to feed at the same time. He is on a one-year sabbatical from his staff position at the Texas Bicycle Coalition, with the goal of exploring by bicycle, at the rate of one per month, the historic trails of Texas. He is the Founder and Director of Texas Heritage Cycling Experience.