When local attorney and former DHS student Mark Cashion left Devine to make his way in the world, he took a path far different from that of law. He first attended Abilene Christian University where he worked at the physical education section of the Abilene State School. In 1981, he came back to Devine and attended UTSA for a while and then to St. Mary’s University – not yet to focus on law at that esteemed law school, but to major in psychology.
Mark got married in 1981 and eventually, two sons were born: Jacob in 1983 and Colby in 1985. Needless to say, with a family to support, Mark worked fulltime alongside continuing his college education. He held various jobs, working at East Medina Water, becoming partners with his grandpa and Robert Irwin on a construction company called VCI Construction – building new homes, remodeling and installing septic systems, etc. – working alongside his mother, Charlene Cashion, in her real estate business here in Devine, and working for a time at the San Antonio State Hospital. Interestingly, he also owned two karate schools – one in Devine and one in Lytle.
The big turning point in Mark’s life came when, in 1987, he was accepted into St. Mary’s School of Law. The astute student that he is – and this writer speaks as Mark’s former English teacher – Mark had found his niche. While in law school, he earned the role of President of the Board of Advocates; he and his partner won the Moot Court competition; and the following year, they won the Regional Mock Trial competition. Mark graduated from law school in 1990, and, shortly after, he opened the Law Office of Mark Cashion in Devine.
Front row: Reese Cashion and Emily Cashion.
In 1995, Mark became board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. “This is a pretty neat accomplishment,” Mark explains. “You have to have practiced for five years before you can apply for board certification. During those five years, you have to have done a certain number of jury trials, bench trials, appeals, and you have recommendations from both judges and peers, and you have to pass a day-long specialty exam.” Mark can proudly state that he is the only attorney in Medina County that is board certified in family law. And, in addition to practicing family law, throughout his career, Mark has also practiced criminal law, real estate law, probate law, and he has served as a Special Prosecutor and a Municipal Judge.
In 2004, Mark married Katie Hall from Brackettville. Katie, who comes from a family of educators, is a Texas A&M graduate. Following in her family’s footsteps, she teaches business and technology classes at Stacey Jr./Sr. High School at Lackland ISD. Both Mark’s boys graduated from Devine. Jacob is a technician, working for an engineering firm in San Antonio that specializes in HVAC testing and balancing. Colby owns his own heating and air-conditioning company, The A/C Guys.
Outside of his law practice, Mark has several other interests. He and his wife were both raised Church of Christ; they both team rope; and they like to fish and play golf. And, very importantly, Mark enjoys his family. Jacob and Colby both have two children. The boys were born six weeks apart, so they share a birth year, and the girls share the same birthday! Emily is five; Reese is two, Van is almost a year, and Tristan is almost 11 months old. Despite his busy schedule and work obligations, Mark manages to be available for his children and grandchildren, time he and Katie treasure.