White was born in Henderson, Texas and is a product of Houston Independent School District.  He attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Lamar High School.  Following his time in HISD, he attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He graduated from Baylor Law School in 1965. After spending time practicing law in Houston, White served as the state's Assistant Attorney General. In 1973, White was appointed as Texas Secretary of State and remained in that position until 1977. He also served in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard. In 1978, Mark White became the Texas Attorney General.

 

White ran for Texas governor in 1982 and won the election.  During his time in office, Mark White worked tirelessly to improve education in the state of Texas and worked to pass the Educational Opportunity Act (EOA).  He lead reforms that included,  “No Pass, No Play” which requires students to earn passing grades to participate in extracurricular activities.  In addition, during his administration, student performance on statewide tests improved and teacher salaries increased.

 

The opening of Mark White Elementary commemorates the life of a man dedicated to education and public service.