Title
Proclaiming September 12, 2018 as Mark A. Hicks Day in the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, Mark A. Hicks was born on June 6, 1961 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Edward R. and Laura J. Hicks and attended public school, graduating from St. Paul Central High School in June of 1979; and
WHEREAS, He was a member of the Rashad Karate Program and trained in gymnastics with the University of Minnesota men’s gymnastics team, while in high school. He was elected to the Minnesota All-star Contact Karate team where he learned self-discipline and self-determination; and
WHEREAS, Mark went on to earn his 5th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido; and
WHEREAS, Mark opened the Mark Hicks Tae Kwon Do Academy in California to teach inner-city young men and young women the importance of self-control, self-defense and perseverance; and
WHEREAS, Mark worked in the entertainment business acting, performing unusual and difficult physical stunts and coordinating artistic and dangerous action scenes in television and motion pictures. Mark was involved in 52 different television shows such as E.R., MacGyver 2017, X-Files, Walking Dead; six television movies and 66 feature films including Hunger Games, Transformers, Coyote Ugly and Rush Hour 2. He performed as a stunt double for over 20 actors including Will Smith, Omar Epps, Chris Tucker, Tyrese and Cuba Gooding, Jr. ensuring their physical safety during filming; and
WHEREAS, Mark was presented three times the Taurus World Stunt Awards; and
WHEREAS, Mark worked and performed in eight countries serving as a representative of St. Paul spreading their values and the cultural richness of St. Paul; and
WHEREAS, Mark learned early in the St. Paul Rashad Karate program to extend a hand up. He continued to mentor others in the entertainment industry and at Shepard of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, California.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the City of St. Paul honors their native son and proclaims September 12th, 2018 as Mark A. Hicks Day.