Parker County Today April 2016 | Page 62

our biz: PROFESSIONAL WISDOM Talk with the Business Titans MARK RILEY Parker County Judge APRIL 2016 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY PCT: How did you get into this field? 60 MR: My interest in politics started in 8th grade with my American History teacher, Mrs. Satterwhite, who was married to State Representative Bill Satterwhite. Due to her family’s involvement in politics, she wanted her students to learn the process. This was during the Johnson/Goldwater presidential election and she taught us how we pick our president. She split the class in half, with one side supporting Johnson and the other Goldwater. We gave speeches and that piqued my interest in politics. Fast forward over the years through high school and while attending Tyler Junior College I worked in news at a local radio station. Our news director at the time left and though young I was named as the station’s news director. In Texas politics it was the era of Dolph Briscoe, Ben Barnes, Lloyd Bentsen and others, including Nixon who came to town for a rally. It gave me the opportunity to interview politicians that somebody my age would not normally have the BY KATIE RODGERS