Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Mark Buck was an exceptional two-sport athlete and continued the tradition of Perryton, Texas greats that played at Northwestern. Buck was a standout as a defensive back in football, and as an all-around performer on the track team.
 
On the gridiron, he was a four-year starter and established a career record of 20 interceptions, a school mark that stood for many years. His performance in 1983 was particularly stellar as he led the NAIA District 9 with eight interceptions. Buck led the Rangers in interceptions in each of his four seasons.
 
For his efforts, he was selected to the All-District 9 and All-Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference teams in both his junior and senior seasons.  In 1983, his record-setting season earned him an honorable mention on the NAIA All-America team.
 
As a track and field star, Buck competed in as many as five events, including field events and sprints. As a member of the team, he participated in the high jump, pole vault, sprint relay, 400 meter dash and the 1600 meter relay. He earned All-OIC honors three times, with only an injury denying him a fourth award.
 
As a freshman in 1982, he helped lead on of the best teams in Ranger track history to the OIC championship. That season, he won the 400 meter dash and was a member of the 4x100 meter relay that placed first and helped the Rangers win the conference meet.
 
During that same season, Buck set the all-time school mark in the high jump as well, setting a record that stood until 1986.
 
Buck earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1985, and later completed work on a master’s degree. While at Northwestern, he met his future wife Tina. The couple has been married for 35 years.
 
Buck went into teaching in 1986 beginning at Alva Middle School, where he taught science until 1993. He then moved to the Chisholm Public Schools to serve as an assistant principal.
 
In 1996, Buck and his family moved to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, where he began a long career with Barber County North USD 254. Currently, he serves as the superintendent of schools.
 
Buck and his wife Tina have two children, Josh and his wife Jill, his son Taylor, and a granddaughter, Palmer.