Joined OCC: September 30, 1957
Elected to Winged “O”: January 15, 1968
Mark Buck was born in San Francisco on August 14, 1945, but at age two he began life anew in Honolulu. He has been a member of the OCC since 1957, and in that time his name has become synonymous with championships on the volleyball court and in the water.
In 1965 he was awarded the coveted Coach of the Year Award by the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association, but his participation in Outrigger sports and activities began many years before.
Mark grew up at the Outrigger and like many young athletes, he was involved in all sports. If he wasn’t playing volleyball, he was in a canoe or on a wave. If he wasn’t playing, he was teaching others to play, paddle, surf or rig a canoe.
During his Punahou School days, Mark played football and captained the volleyball team. He continued playing volleyball at the University of Hawaii and later played on the OCC six-man teams in the Hawaii State Championships and the Nationals.
He is best known for his canoeing expertise as a Senior and Masters paddler since 1964 and as a coach. He paddled the grueling Molokai race in 1961, 1965-1972, 1974-1978, 1984-1985, 1987-1994 and 1998. He was in the winning crew in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1975 and 1977.
Mark was OCC Head Canoe Racing Coach from 1967-1970 and again in 1974 and 1975. He coached our Club teams to Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association state championships in 1967 and 1970 and finished second in 1974 and 1975.
Mark traveled to the Mainland as a member of the Hawaii crew in the Catalina-Balboa Race in 1964, 1965 and 1966 and came home a winner on 1965 and 1966.
Mark was one of the directors of the popular Junior athletic summer program from 1965 to 1970 and helped youngsters in the Club sports program.
Mark served on many Club committees including the Athletic Committee 1968-1969, the Canoe Racing Committee, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976 and 1980, chairing the committee in 1969; the Finance Committee, Bylaws Committee and the Motorcycle Committee 1979.
He was elected to the Outrigger Canoe Club Board of Directors for the first time in 1974 serving three consecutive terms, as Coordinating Director for the Winged “O” in 1974, Assistant Secretary in 1975, Secretary from 1976-1978, and Vice-President of Athletics in 1979. He was elected again in 1984 to three more terms where he served as Coordinating Director of Athletics in 1984, Coordinating Director of Admissions and Membership in 1985, Treasurer and Finance in 1986, Vice President of Operations in 1987, President in 1988, and Coordinating Director of Athletics in 1989. Mark was elected again in 1996 and served as Secretary in 1996, and Assistant Secretary and Coordinating Director of Building & Grounds in 1997.
Mark has a long history as a competitor and supporter of the Outrigger Canoe Club athletic program and epitomizes the spirit of a Winged “O”.