-30- April 2015

-30-

Mark Engebretson

Mark Engebretson, former editor of the Lake County Sun, died March 22, 2015, in Graham after a battle with cancer. 

Engebretson was born in Stephenville, on Sept. 10, 1947, to Oscar and Ethel Engebretson. 

He served in the U.S. Army and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class. Mark also served with the CIA, FBI and Secret Service guarding U.S. presidents.

He edited the Lake Country Sun for nearly 15 years and received numerous awards from the Texas Press Association, North and East Texas Press Association and West Texas Press Association for his journalism and photography. 

A retirement party was held Feb. 12, during which he was honored by members of the community and received several commendations. 

A new masthead was revealed, which included Engebretson’s tenure as editor-in-chief from 2000 to 2015.

Engebretson authored three western novels and was also an actor in “The Legend of Hell’s Gate.” 

He was an EMT for the Possum Kingdom East Volunteer Fire Department.

Richard Finnell

Richard Allen Finnell, 69, of Austin, died suddenly in his home on February 21, 2015. He was born October 12, 1945 in McAllen to Allen and Lola Finnell.

Finnell graduated from the University of Texas and pursued a career in journalism. He worked for Hill Country News in Cedar Park and was an adviser for “The Daily Texan” with the Department of Journalism at UT. He retired in 2009.