Mark Persons of Brainerd was honored as Engineer of the Year by the
Society of Broadcast Engineers, a 5000 member worldwide organization. He
and his wife Paula accepted the award at a ceremony in Boston recently.
Mark is self-taught and was turning the knobs of broadcast transmitters
as a pre-teen when his parents, Charles and June Persons, owned WELY
Radio in Ely, MN. Broadcast engineering continued until his recent
retirement at age 71. Along the way, he engineered and built twelve new
radio broadcast stations, mostly in the Midwest, with the exception of
one in Florida and one in California. Mark rebuilt or updated one
hundred more radio stations.
Mark Persons helped build his parent’s station, KVBR Radio in Brainerd,
at age 16. He joined the U.S. Army and taught electronic component level
troubleshooting at Ft. Monmouth, NJ, then was Sergeant in Charge of an
aviation electronics repair shop in Vietnam 1968-69. The mission was to
“keep ‘em flying.”
Back in civilian life, Mark and his wife Paula ran their broadcast
engineering company for over 40 years, building and keeping radio
stations on the air. Over a thousand pieces of high-tech electronic
broadcast equipment, from all over the country, Canada, Haiti, the
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Philippines and Hong Kong were
repaired in their facility. Mark was quoted as saying, “The money came
to Brainerd where we shop local and buy American.”
Along the way, Mark designed six broadcast products, which were
manufactured by Zercom, later Nortech, in Merrifield, MN. He wrote more
than 180 articles for trade journals and gave numerous speeches to
industry groups. Learn more at
http://www.mwpersons.com
Mark and Paula could have sold their business, but instead elected to
help others get into a career of radio broadcast engineering. It was the
right thing to do.
Now retired, Mark and Paula Persons mentor four radio broadcast
engineers and volunteer at community events. Mark continues to write for
trade publications. He is a member of the National Radio Systems
Committee. This group of scientists and engineers develops improved
technical standards for ultimate adoption as Federal Communications
Commission rules. In addition, Mark is a life member of the Society of
Broadcast Engineers, American Radio Relay League, American Legion,
Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.
An interesting side note: Back in about 1972, Mark was asked to
troubleshoot an electronic problem in the Brainerd Dispatch printing
press. This was an emergency situation that was holding up printing that
day. Mark found and repaired the problem at no charge. It was an example
of helping people in life.
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Messages received:
March 4, 2019: Congratulations on an amazing career!
John Pecarich, Brainerd, MN.
February 28, 2019: Way to go Mark! This is really
cool. You should be really proud. This speaks to the quality
of people you both are and I am proud to know you. Eric
Bolt, Brainerd, MN.
February 25, 2019: Congratulations on your award.
Bill Matthies, Brainerd, MN.
February 21, 2019: Congratulations on your well-deserved
Engineer of the Year award! We are proud to call you "friend" and
to know such a talented fellow! Have a drink on us! Here's
to your excellent achievement! All the best, Dave and jean
Schaeffer, Brainerd, MN.
February 14, 2019: Way to go Mark! This is really cool.
You should be really proud! This article speak to the quality of
people you both are. Eric Bolt, Brainerd, MN.
February 13, 2019: Congratulations on an amazing career!
John Pecarich, Brainerd, MN.
February 13, 2019: Congratulations on
your award. Bill Matthies, Brainerd, MN.
February 12, 2019:
Congrats to Mr. High Tech Mark!! What a great honor that is...proud to
be a neighbor! Jerry Sinner,
Brainerd, MN.
February 12, 2019:
That’s awesome, who’s ready for this spring Top Chef competition ???
Dale Ray Thiesen, Brainerd, MN.
February 12, 2019:
Neighborhood celebrity. Nice article.
Angie Reese, Brainerd, MN.
February 12, 2019: Friends, I wanted to be sure you know of
our celebrated neighbor Mark Persons. He and Paula are now
retired, although I am sure they will both still be active!
Cathy Gray, Brainerd, MN.
February 12, 2019:
Mark, On behalf of the
DAV, Disabled
American Veterans, congratulations on your honor as Engineer of the Year
by the Society of Broadcast Engineers! As National Commander, it
gives me great pride to recognize the men and women who have served and
sacrificed for our great country and our prescedented freedoms.
Know that all of us at the DAV recognize and applaud what you have done
for our nation, and from one "ole war Vet" to another, thank you for
your service to our country and being a valued member of the DAV.
Dennis R. Nixon, National Commander of the DAV, Washington, D.C.
February 11, 2019:
Hi Mark, congratulations on your well-deserved award. I will always
remember you as my personal trainer in radio.
Karl Knutsen.
February 10, 2019:
It’s a well deserved honor. :-)
Shane Toven, Laramie, WY.
February 10, 2019:
Great article and recognition in this morning's Dispatch.
Fritz Bertelt, Brainerd, MN. |
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