Teach a Man to Fish

photo by shane darby

Once a recipient of charitable aid, Mark Bledsoe now serves as CEO of the local United Way organization
By Brooke Stone

A proud Texarkana native, Mark Bledsoe has dedicated much of his adult life to strengthening the community that raised him. When Mark was young, his father suffered a serious health scare and was laid off from work. Like many families facing hardship, they leaned on community programs and local support systems to help them get through.

“The community gave to me as a youngster with the services that were offered,” Mark said. “It made me want to give back. My parents always encouraged me to give back when you can, because you never know what life might present you.”

Mark and Keely have two daughters, Marlee Bledsoe and Blaire Williams. submitted photo

As president and CEO of United Way of Greater Texarkana since 2014, Mark works to help others many of whom are walking the same road his own family once traveled. Mark sees firsthand how charitable giving impact lives every single day. What matters most to him are the personal stories—the individuals who are able to break cycles and build new futures because someone invested in them.

“You’re doing it for the one person you can help pull out of the circle and make a difference for,” he said. “You can change the whole direction of where that family tree goes from there.”

A woodworking hobbyist, Mark carved this rabbit out of mahogany. Pictured to the left are some of Mark’s other carved treasures, including a table and a Viking chair.

With a high-stakes, public-facing job, Mark retreats in his free time to quieter, less social hobbies. His woodworking journey began unexpectedly, with a cypress tree in his yard that needed to be removed. After receiving a high quote to have it removed, Mark decided that he could probably handle it himself. During his research, he discovered the tree trunk could potentially be transformed into a table. That first project opened the door to an entirely new creative outlet.

He also loves fishing. “Fishing is where I find my quiet space and solitude,” he said. “As I’ve grown older, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for slowing down and noticing life’s finer details.”

photo by shane darby

Traveling has been an equally valuable outlet—one that has given him a broader perspective on the world and a deeper appreciation for community. Mark has traveled to more than 30 countries on six continents, including China, Russia, Egypt, Slovenia, Croatia, and Peru, with plans to visit France for a third time. He said that the more places he visited, the more he came to appreciate both the differences between cultures and the universal importance of community.

While on a guided fishing experience on the White River with friend Dave Crisenbery, Mark reeled in a 28.5-inch brown trout, his catch-and-release trophy of the excursion. submitted photo

“Traveling has opened my eyes to how well we really do have it here,” Mark said. “And it’s also incredible being able to see places you’ve only seen in pictures.” He said that many of the places he’s visited have challenged the assumptions and ideas he grew up with.

Experiencing different cultures firsthand broadened Mark’s perspective in ways that books and photographs never could. He urges others to apply that lesson to the underserved communities in Texarkana as well. He encourages those wanting to see change to be that change. “Find an area you want to improve, and volunteer,” he said. “And if there’s not an agency out there taking care of that need, create it.”

In 2023, Mark and his oldest daughter, Blaire, traveled to the French Riviera on a United Way fundraising trip. submitted photo

After decades of serving Texarkana through volunteerism and community development, Mark is optimistic about the city’s future. He speaks highly of the progress already taking shape throughout the city, from downtown revitalization efforts to expanded recreation opportunities, parks, and walking pathways. To him, those improvements reflect a community that is continuing to invest in its future.

While immediate help matters, Mark emphasized that lasting change comes from giving people the tools, support, and opportunities to succeed on their own. “It’s like that proverb,” he explained: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”