Mark McKohen was born on October 26, 1947. He grew up in a middle-class home in Park Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

His dad, Hugh, was a World War II Navy veteran—and a lifelong Republican who worked hard and saved it all for the last day. He led a small advertising and Public Relations agency of his own in Cincinnati

His mother, Dorothy, had a tough childhood—and she inspired Mark’s lifelong commitment to helping every child live up to his or her God-given potential.

He attended public schools and was a Boy Scout. He also played in local baseball leagues as a pitcher.

After graduating from high school, Mark attended the Yale University.

While in college, which was right about the time the civil rights movement has been around, Mark became involved with social justice activism. His college-mates chose him to be the first-ever student speaker at Yale's 1969 commencement ceremony.

After serving as a lawyer for the congressional committee investigating President Nixon, Mark moved to Arkansas, where he taught criminal law, criminal procedure, and trial advocacy and ran the legal aid clinic and prison projects.

In 2008 Mark ran for the President for the first time. When he came up short, Mark told his supporters:

“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it.”