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We Remember - FHWA Oklahoma City Memorial Page
by Ken Seiler, Ron Carricker, and Kitty Bowman
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The Mark Bolte Bridge |
It happened on November 9, as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) dedicated the US 385 and US 87 Interchange Bridge in Hartley County, Texas as the Mark Bolte Bridge. Mark was an FHWA engineer in the Texas Division Office from 1991 to 1995. His life was cut tragically short in the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building on April 19, 1995. Mark had just begun his newest assignment there.
The ceremony was attended by State and local officials, TxDOT employees, FHWA staff from the Arkansas, Oklahoma, and the Texas Division Offices, contractors, local residents of the panhandle, Mark's parents Joyce and Don Bolte and his brother Matt.
Mark Tomlinson, TxDOT Amarillo District Engineer, led the event, saying that it was Mark's people skills that contributed to the smooth progress and approval of the project. Tom Rains, FHWA Arkansas Division Office, who recruited Mark, spoke about how he kept up with Mark during his training program and further assignments, and read a poem relating to the significance of Mark's accomplishments during his short career. Lubin Quinones, FHWA Oklahoma Division Office who was accompanied by two of the survivors from the tragedy, thanked the TxDOT for the extra effort in dedicating the bridge to Mark. Ken Seiler, FHWA Texas Division Office, in his remarks, stated that TxDOT could have continued on with their business after the pain of the tragedy, but instead decided to make an extra effort in honoring Mark.
Mark's family was presented letters from Governor George W. Bush, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, and FHWA Administrator Ken Wykle, expressing the high esteem in which Mark was held by his friends and co-workers.
In addition to the bridge, a plaque located in a roadside picnic area along US 87, north of Hartley, will serve as lasting memorial to Mark.
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Shown standing on the bridge, in front of the dedication plaque are (l. to r.): Matt Bolte, Mark's brother; Joyce and Don Bolte, Mark's parents; Mark Tomlinson, Amarillo District Engineer, TxDOT; David Swinford, state representative; and Ronnie Gordon, Hartley County Judge. Mark Tomlinson gave the opening remarks at the dedication ceremony. |
MARK BOLTE BRIDGE DEDICATED 1999 The following Poem was written by his It has been incorporated into the bronze By Joyce Bolte Our hearts share the same loss, |
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The above article appeared in the January 2000 edition of "FHWA News", a publication produced by and for FHWA Employees.