Milton Marks ICTA Founder, Former ASTA President Passes

Milton A. Marks, a past president of ASTA and a founder of the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA) passed away on Sunday, November 14.

Marks was a Founder Trustee of ICTA, which is now The Travel Institute. He was also CEO of ICTA at its founding in 1964 and later served as president and chairman of its board until his retirement in 1988. After his retirement he was elected chairman emeritus.

Marks also served in various official elected positions with ASTA. He was ASTA’s national president in 1962 and 1963. In 1972, ASTA recognized him with its Travel Agent of the Year Award. In 1990 at the World Travel Congress in Hamburg, Germany, he was inducted in the Travel Hall of Fame.

He entered the travel industry in 1935 when he joined his father and brother Arthur K. Marks at Marks Travel Service in Dayton. Except for the time spent in the Army, he continued with the firm until its sale in 1984. Marks received numerous awards for his contribution to the travel industry and his leadership in developing professional education for travel agents and the industry.

Marks and his late wife, Miriam Siegel Marks had three children and six grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Rita Zalk Cline Marks.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 in Dayton, Ohio at Temple Israel at 1 p.m. In Lieu of Flowers, contributions can be made to the Miriam Siegel Marks Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.