Mark and Debbie Haskell met in a very romantic fashion – they both worked at the same Tom Thumb grocery store while attending college in Dallas. They got married in May 1976 shortly after graduation and just before Mark started his career with Conoco.
Mark was born and raised in South Louisiana and then moved to the Dallas, Texas area in 1969. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Texas and attended the university of Pittsburgh for an executive MBA program in 1989.
Debbie was born and raised in Dallas, attending Ursuline Academy from K through 12, which instilled a passion for service, based on the School’s motto of “serviam” (Latin for “I will serve”). Because they kept moving after marrying, Debbie attended 5 different universities, finally graduating from the University of Houston with degrees in Education and Child Development.
The couple has two sons. Chris, the oldest resides in Austin, TX and has been married for 9 years to Michiko. They had their first child in May 2017. Will, the youngest, currently resides in bartlesville and has been married for 5 years to Lauren.
Mark’s career took them to 7 locations in the US (Houston 4 times) and 2 international assignments in London and Jakarta. They moved to Bartlesville in 2002 when Conoco and Phillips merged. mark worked in Upstream Financial Services, IT, and Human Resources Shared Services in Bartlesville, and retired on May 1, 2012 after 36 years of service.
They have both been life-long volunteers, and this plays a key part in their relationship. Mark is a founding member and the current board Chair for Main Street Bartlesville, past president of the Board of Directors for the Bartlesville Regional United Way, vice president of Mary Martha Outreach, and also serves on the board of Passages, a Houston-based drug and alcohol residential treatment center for women.
Mark has led the planning committee for the last 10 years for All That Jazz, which raises money to support the Westside Community Center in Bartlesville; serves as the Co-Chair of the planning committee for Ghost Walk, the signature event for Main Street Bartlesville; serves on the planning committee for ShamRockTheVille, a 5K that raises money in support of Mary Martha Outreach; serves on the Special Event Committee for OK Mozart.
He received the ConocoPhillips Chairman’s Individual Life Time Achievement Award in 2011, to recognize his career-long commitment as a volunteer as well as the Valuing All People Award in 2000 for his global work in helping people from diverse backgrounds.
Debbie has been a board member of the Bartlesville Choral Society, EmployAbility, and OK Mozart. She is also an active volunteer for numerous other organizations including Price Tower Arts Center, Mary Martha Outreach, Westside Community Center, Give Back America, Polar Plunge, League of Women Voters, and International Women’s Group.
After living and traveling extensively, they have decided to retire here, and they love Bartlesville – the people, the rich heritage, the variety of arts, the ease of living here, and the great potential it holds.