Students, family honor ‘Pops,’ a school crossing guard who died fishing in Trinity River
Mark Knowles followed a ritual every day. He went fishing at the Trinity River, got home and ate dinner while watching his favorite TV show with his wife, Elizabeth.
On Oct. 23, Elizabeth Knowles got off work and called her husband to ask if he was fishing. He laughed and said he wasn’t there yet but was on his way. This was the last time she heard his voice over the phone.
Mark Knowles’ body was recovered from the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Fort Worth last week, according to police. An autopsy is being conducted by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of the 66-year-old man’s death. Elizabeth said she anticipates they won’t have the autopsy report ready for about 90 days.
Mark, who was retired, served as a crossing guard at Lily B. Clayton Elementary School and as a security officer at TCU.
Dwayne Ferguson, another crossing guard at the elementary school, said that Mark, also affectionately known as Pops, did a lot for the children and the community.
He passed out lollipops to every kid on their way home, telling them to make sure that they listen to their parents and do their homework, and the students loved him, Ferguson said.
“We got dressed up every holiday, we laughed, we danced and played music,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson said it’s going to be hard this holiday season without Mark, but they are probably still going to dress up to try to keep his legacy.
Eric Gilbert, commander of the Special Operations Division at TCU, said Mark was very outgoing and inquisitive, and was excited to be a part of TCU.
Gilbert said at work Mark was always helpful and could be counted on to volunteer for any assignment on the university campus.
Every year new students moving in is a big event for TCU, and Mark was engaged, making sure that people had water and everyone was taken care of, Gilbert said.
“We definitely miss him,” Gilbert said. “Unfortunately, we only got a small, limited time to spend with him here. He was definitely a dedicated employee.”
Perry Johnston, a neighbor and co-worker at TCU, said Mark loved working at TCU football games. He had a rapport with a lot of students there, he said.
“It wasn’t a long relationship, but it was a short but meaningful relationship,” said Johnston, who had known Mark for about two and a half years.
Community members and students at the elementary school placed signs in his memory outside on the school grounds where he gave out treats to the kids.
“Pops, thank you for keeping us safe. Always in our hearts,” one of the posters reads.
“You know, not everybody has this kind of outpouring for you,” Johnston said. “If you commit to having a relationship with your friends and family and neighbors, and so they returned the favor to him, showing him how much they loved him.”
Elizabeth said her husband died doing what he loved best, which was fishing. It’s comforting to her that the community has voiced how much they love him, she said.
Not only did he dress up for the kids at school but he dressed up for every holiday with his family, Elizabeth said. Mark had already picked out a costume for Halloween: He planned to dress as the Mad Hatter from “Alice in Wonderland.”
“We are going to trick or treat with grandkids and celebrate Pops that way,” Elizabeth said.