ITD’s Mark Hall takes a final curtain call this fall
and retires after three decades of service

Mark Hall, longtime department photographer, will retire September 30 after almost 30 years with the department. Hall was ITD’s Clown Prince – a clown in department videos and skits; a prince of a man the rest of the time.

If you’ve spent much time around Mark, you know he has an endless supply of highly entertaining stories. Here are just a few:

When he started his career with ITD, his very first day (Oct. 18, 1991) was a video shoot in Weiser for a project on US-95 where the construction team had unearthed remains of an ancient civilization. Mark and ITD Videographer Dave Tuttle were called out to document the event. Mark found himself hanging out the door of a helicopter several hundred feet off the ground. As it turns out, they found the remains of a 13,000-year-old tribal community.

This was just one of the helicopter adventures for Hall in his first decade with the department.

Hall was standing outside the helicopter, on the landing runners, on a trip to Filer in the early 90’s when the pilot’s voice came over his headset warning him of a 40-mph crosswind about to hit him. The pilot tried to get back to the hangar, but it was at least eight miles away. Hall recalls seeing the “wall of sand” generated by the high winds headed right for him. Despite bracing himself and the equipment, the winds picked Hall up off the runners, slammed him into the plane’s fuselage, and pinned him there. He sat dangling in mid-air, kept upright only by the force of the wind hitting his chest, until the pilot could turn the helicopter around.

On another video shoot, in Coeur d’Alene on a brutally cold mid-December day, he remembers operating outside of the helicopter where the outside temperature combined with the wind chill to bring the temperature down to 80 degrees below zero.

“We couldn’t feel our feet for three days,” he recalls.

Hall actually met Dave years before when Mark was producing a “local-origination” half-hour comedy show each week called New & Improved and Tuttle was the Assistant Manager of the United Cable branch where Mark brought his materials each time.

“Dave taught me everything I know about editing,” Hall said.

Here is one of Mark's videos from many years ago. "That was shot on a long-outdated platform," Hall said. "The video quality was bad from the start."

Hall actually came to ITD after 17 years as a freelance insurance claims damage assessor. But he never applied for a job with the department – Tuttle just asked him if he wanted to come shoot the US-95/Weiser helicopter footage, and while they were out on the project that day, the paperwork went through to hire him.

Hall remained a permanent part-time employee for 19 years, until one morning in 2010, when new Director Brian Ness found out he was a part-timer. By that afternoon, Hall’s status changed to full-time.

“Mark was one of the first employees that I met when I accepted the position as Director back in 2009," said Ness. "Mark and I have worked together over the years on many projects. One of the most memorable was when we were in Washington, D.C. together for the Transportation Research Board annual meeting many years ago. Mark and I decided to film a spot on the steps of the United States Capitol. We chose to do it on a Sunday morning because we figured it would be quiet and there would be no one else around. However, that was not the case that particular morning. There was a full dress rehearsal going on for the inauguration ceremony of President Obama's election to a second term. While a little distracting, it was pretty cool taping my remarks with 'Hail to the Chief' playing in the background. Mark and I have been involved in a lot of significant events and I will miss working with him.”

Hall said the feeling is mutual.

“Brian changed everything for me,” said an extremely grateful Hall. “He changed my life when he made me full-time.”

Jeff Stratten, who was Hall's manager for all but the last five years of Mark's time at ITD, recalls their time together with his usual brand of humor:

“I have known Mark for 29 years. He has become like family to me…in that we often ate meals together in total silence.

I am glad Mark is retiring because I know he is tired.

Tired of (current Communication Manager) Vince Trimboli taking his pulse and checking his vital signs for confirmation of life.

Tired of how stingy Dave Tuttle is becoming with the Demerol.

And tired of being arrested for looking like an aging vagrant."

Dave Tuttle, who has spent the last 30 years working side-by-side with Mark, has a lot to say, but also doesn't feel like it is enough to fully capture the last three decades:

"I met Mark while I was working for United Cable," Tuttle said. "Mark was a talented comedy writer and just plain old hysterical on camera. When I joined ITD in 1987, there were several occasions that we needed to hire on-camera actors and Mark and his sister Kathleen were top of the list.

If there is one thing that sticks out with Mark it is his sense of humor. I remember many road trips with Mark that would take us all over the state shooting video for construction projects, public meetings and PSAs. No matter what we had to do, Mark's humor would make the trips memorable. It really wouldn't take much to get us laughing which made the long drives very short.

There are so many stories about Mark that it's difficult to mention just one. The bottom line is Mark made an impact at ITD and many of his on-camera appearances, videos and stills will become legend. For videos Mark has been handcuffed, jailed, dressed up as a leprechaun, a fish, a potato, Uncle Sam and a female Spanish dancer complete with castanets locked behind bars in the old penitentiary! There was never a request that Mark turned down.

Mark's family has always been the most important thing in his life, and as he moves into retirement I wish him many years spoiling his granddaughter, Avery!

Mark is not just a co-worker or friend, he's family and it has been my privilege working with him. He will be missed!"

Here's an example of Mark being whatever is needed at the time - in this case, it was a leprechaun.

Hall said his post-retirement life will involve spending a lot more time with his kids and grandkids. He has two adult children – Kate is an associate at Edwards Jones investments, and Mallory is a pastry chef at Thomas Cuisine. Both are here in the Treasure Valley.

Mark will also learn to play the guitar a bit better than the one or two chords he has mastered so far, and plans to buy a travel trailer he can use to tour the country and see the sights. Mark will stage his solo journeys from the homes of any of the friends and relatives who live in 30 states across the nation.

Hall said the thing he will miss most when he leaves ITD is that family atmosphere of caring and compassion, where we all look out for each other.

“It’s been a great place to work. I’ve been here most of my adult life, and that is the main reason I’ve stayed – these are my friends and family.”

Mark provided levity in every situation. Sometimes other words besides "levity" were used to describe his humor. The point is, he was always memorable. And he'll be missed, as will his quick wit and uncanny timing.

Published 09-11-20