Texas is proudly sponsored by Mark Kratz. Please contact him for suggestions or corrections. Or just thank him for sharing his state with us.

Mark is an Air Force veteran stationed mainly at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico during the 1970s, performing weld repair on T-38s, F-4s and Bell helicopters. After the military, he worked briefly for United Airlines and then decided on a Law Enforcement career. Mark retired to Texas after a 30 year career with the Fremont Police Department in California.

During his LEO career, Mark spent eight years on the SWAT Team as a sniper, 25 years as a firearms instructor, 3 years as a high tech and white collar crime detective, 15 years as a motor officer, and was the lead motorcycle instructor for his agency. He was also a RADAR and LIDAR instructor, tear gas instructor, a court qualified expert in firearms, traffic collision reconstruction and motorcycle collision investigation and reconstruction.

On the side, Mark taught for 25 years as an adjunct professor at Ohlone Community College and was a rider/coach for the MSF. He also worked as an expert witness in traffic accident reconstruction.

Mark currently has eight motorcycles, including a 1973 Rokon Ranger (go ahead, Google it) which he is restoring. He is a member of the Iron Butt Association, BMWMOA, Two Wheel Texans Forum, GWRRA, LDRider Forum, Motorcycle Endurance Riders Association, and is a co-moderator for Georgetown Honda Riders Motorcycle Meet Up Group. He is also a member and webmaster for Texas Chapter 30 of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.

Besides motorcycling, Mark is a member of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, the 351st Bomb Group Association, and Shark Hunters International. He has his own website blogging about military history and motorcycling. www.kratzmc.com. Mark is an amateur historian and collects WWII military memorabilia and has built a private museum at his ranch in Texas.

Mark's father, MSgt. Wendell A. Kratz, was a USAF World War II and Korean War veteran, awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, 5 Air Medals and numerous other awards. He survived 35 missions as an Aerial Gunner on a B-17G and two separate aircraft accidents.

The photo above shows Mark with a 90-year-old B-29 veteran and bombardier at the former "Hondo" USAAF Airfield in Honda Texas, prior to his ride on the B-29 "FiFi."

If you wish to contact Mark to discuss the 2013 ToH sites for Texas, email him at [email protected].