Former Norwegian Ambasasador Mark Evans Austad died Oct. 20, 1988, in Arizona. He was 71.
The son of immigrant Norwegian parents, Austad was born April 1, 1917, in Ogden. He attended Weber State College, where he served as student body president. Years later he received an honorary doctorate from the college.He began a broadcast career at KSL and later succeeded Arthur Godfrey as the CBS radio commentator in Washington, D.C., using the name Mark Evans. Before being hired by CBS, he did a weekly program from Walter Reed Hospital with Eleanor Roosevelt. For 25 years, he was host for an "Opinion in the Capital" program from Washington.
From 1975 to 1977, he served as U.S., Ambassador to Finland, where he was knighted for outstanding service - the first such honor given an American ambassador.
He served as U.S. ambassador to Norway from 1980 to 1984. While there, he earned the Great Cross of St. Olav, Norway's highest honor, for his work in fighting heart disease.
He served on the citizens advisory board of the Peace Corps, on the Washington, D.C., American Red Cross executive board, on the public affairs committee of the National Chamber of Commerce. He was also a board member for the Arizona Heart Institute and the Disabled American Veterans.
Austad was honored as Scouter of the Year by the Boy Scouts of America in 1970.
In 1987, he was presented with the Bronze Minuteman - the highest award given by the Utah National Guard - for "his deep commitment to freedom and a strong national defense."
Funeral is scheduled Wednesday at 10 a.m. at 3408 Washington Blvd. in Ogden. Friends may call Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Interment will be in Lindquist Washington Heights Memorial Park.