Mark Agee is one of those people that others want around when the going gets tough. As a native of western Greenbrier County, he cares deeply about the community. So, it should come as no surprise that a person like Agee would dedicate his life to helping those in the area.
For the last 18 years, Agee has served in the West Virginia State Police. He celebrated this milestone in January.
Not only does Agee serve those in his community as a police officer, but he serves as the head girls basketball and track coach at Greenbrier West High School, he is active in his local church and he is dedicated to his family. His wife, Davina, is also a western Greenbrier native who serves as the director of Children’s Home Society in Rupert.
Many who know him, wonder how he finds the time to make all of this work, but somehow he does.
As Agee was growing up, he attended Crichton Elementary and Junior High and became a 1997 graduate of Greenbrier West High School.
Before he became a state trooper, Agee worked in the mines, studied for a degree in criminal justice, served as a correctional officer and became a mechanic at his parents’ shop, Agee Service Center, once located in Rupert.
Even though he tried out several jobs before he decided to become a state trooper, Agee said he ultimately chose his career so he could become a positive influence for those in his community.
“I always wanted to be in law enforcement because I wanted to help people, especially those who couldn’t help themselves,” Agee said. “I have wanted to be a trooper since the first time I saw one in the first grade — Les Mullens. He was a good role model for me.”
Mullens served as a West Virginia State Trooper and retired as a lieutenant in August 2001. He still lives in the area.
“Nila and I both watched Mark grow up,” Mullens said of himself and his wife. “Mark and my son were the same age taking karate lessons; then, I taught him in Sunday School class.”
Mullens added that once Agee became a state trooper, he knew he would be a great fit for the job.
“He is a credit to the West Virginia State Police,” Mullens noted. “Being a policeman is being able to talk to people. He was part of the community, and when you are part of the community, people trust you. A good character is key, and he had good teaching. His mom and dad, Harvey and Jewell, raised him as one should be raised — that is where character starts. He is just rock-solid in all ways.”
“How he is a husband, a father, a coach, and holding down his career, well, I don’t know how he does his time management,” Mullens continued. “He has a tremendous impact in the community. He and his wife, Davina, are a good team for one another.”
Agee also credits his parents in making him the person he is today.
“The reason I do what I do comes a lot from my father, the way I was raised, the Bible and what God has taught me,” Agee said. “Other than the state police, I don’t feel like there is any other career I could have gotten into that would allow me to be this person.”
Although Agee says that he has no intentions to retire any time soon, he admitted that when he does think about retirement, he would like to become a teacher and continue coaching.
Jared Robertson, Greenbrier West athletic director, said of Agee, “He is very helpful at our school, not only through coaching sports but for all the good work he does in general. He works really hard to help our kids, and is a great asset to our school.”
Considering the impact that Agee has already made in students’ lives, this would be a good career transition.
Although Agee admitted that the worst part of being a state trooper is the stress, the best part is being able to protect people who cannot protect themselves.
“This job will humble you,” Agee said. “But I wouldn’t trade anything I have done in the last 18 years. You are not going to make everybody happy, but there will be people who come up and thank you and tell you how much they respect what you do.”
West Virginia State Police Sergeant Steven Murphy, commander of the Rainelle detachment, said that Agee’s years of service bring expertise on investigations and that he is always the person who assists new troopers and gives them direction.
“He is the guy you want beside you,” Murphy said.
Agee notes that the job hasn’t changed that much over the years, but the way in which people commit crimes has.
“The sophistication that is used to not only help solve crimes but for people to commit crimes has really changed. I learn something new every day,” Agee said.
Another thing that Agee said has changed since he first became a trooper, is the way people are beginning to look at police officers now versus 18 years ago.
“You see it on television. You hear it on the radio and you see it in the newspapers. I think society views one person’s actions and equates them to an entire country as far as police agencies are concerned,” Agee said. “It’s hard to change a perspective that has been preached over and over on national television. There are people who know that we are doing a good job, but then there are people who don’t want to see that. If I could change that perception, I would.”
When Agee is not working, he said he enjoys carpentry work, fishing, hunting, riding ATVs, spending time with his family and enjoying God’s creation.
If God hadn’t wanted me in this position, I don’t think I would be here,” Agee said. “Anything I have done, I owe to God and not to myself.”
