The Archives Committee is excited to be a part of interviewing and highlighting our congregants who are 90 years and older. On May 5, 2021, Midge Pines and Brenda Henley interviewed Dr. Edgar Marks, age 99.
Edgar Marks Interview
June 2021
Edgar was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on October 29, 1921. He notes it was the same day of the groundbreaking for the Jefferson Building at Market and Elm Street in Greensboro.
The Marks family lived in a boarding house in downtown Greensboro for a number of years. They owned a men’s clothing store called Marks and a shoe store called Marks Slipper Salon. All of the Marks’ brothers, Edgar’s father, Ben Marks, Sr., and two uncles, Louie and Harry Marks worked in the stores. The family thrived and eventually moved to a home on Arden Place in Sunset Hills in Greensboro.
Growing up, Edgar spent his Saturday mornings attending Religious School taught by Rabbi Fred Rypins in his office at Temple Emanuel on North Greene Street. Edgar was active in the boys’ choir until his voice changed and was an usher during the High Holy Days. People from all over North Carolina came for services, especially during the Holidays. The Temple was so packed for the Holidays, the overflow had to sit in the basement.
In 1940, Edgar went to summer school at NC College for Women (NCCW now UNCG.
Dr. Marks graduated from Duke University and obtained his medical training at Bowman Gray. He spent two years interning at the Jewish Hospital n Brooklyn. After his time in the US Army, Dr. Marks worked at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem for one year, then two years at the Bronx Hospital in New York.
From 1946 through 1948, just prior to the Korean War, the Army sent Dr. Marks to Korea. US troops were in charge of divesting Korea of the Japanese. This was also the time of the cholera outbreak, and Dr. Marks supervised the administration of anti-bacterial drugs.
Dr. Marks began his medical practice in Greensboro, North Carolina, and he helped administer the polio vaccine in 1951. When Cone Hospital opened in 1954, Dr. Marks admitted three of the first thirty patients. His successful, private medical practice bordered Cone Hospital where he charged $3 for an office visit and $5 for a home visit.
In 1970, Dr. Marks attended a medical convention in Israel where he was personally invited to meet Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion at Ben-Gurion’s private study. This was a very proud moment for Edgar.
In his life of firsts, Dr. Marks adds that he had the pleasure of being the last man ever to slide down the firehouse pole at the fire station no longer in existence on North Greene Street.
Edgar’s grandfather Moses was a founding father of Temple Emanuel.
His brothers, Ben, Arnold of blessed memory and William of blessed memory have played active roles in the Temple, and his sons Kelly and John continue that tradition here. His daughter Marianne lives in Tucson, Arizona.
We salute Dr. Edgar Marks for a long life, well-lived and wish him continued time with loved ones and memories.
-Brenda Henley and Midge Pines
Temple Emanuel Archive Blog 