World-Renowned Speaker Passes Away - Austin, TX

In the 90s a name kept popping up in the recovery circles I frequented.

His name was Mark Houston and he was said to go beyond "just not drinking" through his books, tapes, and lectures and I was told I should go hear him "do the steps."

So, with a friend I did then I started listening to his tapes in the car. And I was moved although I didn't catch on to the last one.

Fast forward a few years to 2005 or 2006 and another friend asked me to go with her to hear Houston speak at another group. It was packed as it usually was when he would take the podium and once again I got a lot out of it.

Today was Houston's memorial service in Austin, Texas where he lived. He passed away unexpectedly recently after dying of a stomach aneurysm during surgery. He had gone to the hospital for suspected heart problems.

But he left a unique lasting legacy as some are fortunate enough to do.

Houston, 63, was an army veteran, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Dakota, was director of admissions at La Hacienda Treatment Center in Hunt, TX, and was CEO of Burning Tree in Kaufman. He also founded two treatment centers, one for men and one for women, published books, ran a recovery website, was a circuit speaker, and helped millions of people struggling with addiction all the way from Sydney, Australia to Canada and places in between.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested to be made to the Alcoholics Anonymous' local intergroup chapter in whatever city you live in.

To those who did not know him, his message lives on online, offline, in CDs, taped speaking engagements, and stories from friends and loved ones as well as those who worked closely with him including his friend Lloyd who carried the message with him often for many years at conferences and workshops.

"The message that Mark carried to me is eternal," wrote Cathy of Ontario in Houston's guestbook.

Listening to his Big Book study changed a man named Jeff's life.

"I am personally indebted to Mark," says Mike TerMaat of Pollock Pines, CA.

Houston wrote on his treatment center home page that he believed that it is essential to develop a relapse prevention program that consists of a set of disciplines and processes for yourself that will see you through the most difficult of circumstances.

"Achieving sobriety is a constant practice in self discipline," he writes. "It is an act of insanity to continue to do things that have proven not to work and expect different results."

For more information about Houston's treatment centers, see markhoustonrecovery.com.