Mark Hampton, Longtime Public Servant, Dies During Overseas Hunting Trip

A former Texas county official has died during an overseas hunting trip.

Mark Hampton of Summersville was 68 years old. Mr. Hampton was a longtime member of the Summersville School District, a former state representative first elected in 1998 and previously serving as a trustee of Texas County Memorial Hospital.

An avid exotic animal hunter, Mr. Hampton began teaching in Summersville in 1979 and spent a total of 23 years working in the district as a teacher, coach, athletic director and high school principal before finishing as superintendent before his retirement. His wife, Karen, is a retired educator. His late father, Lavere, was Summersville’s doctor before retiring in 1981.

Mr. Hampton left his studies twice for other fields of employment, working for several years with the Missouri State Water Patrol at Lake of the Ozarks and as a State Representative from the 147th District .

Hampton’s love of mountain hunting is documented in the pages of a book he wrote, “Addicted to Altitude; Confessions of a mountain hunter. He recounts in a narrative style his experiences after a match at high altitude.

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