Draft:Robert R Martin

About

Robert R Martin (December 27, 1910- November 29, 1997) was the first Eastern Kentucky University graduate to serve as University President. Born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, Martin attended school until 1930 when he graduated and attended Eastern until 1934. He began his career teaching at a high school in Mason County. He then became Principal in 1938 at Orangeburg High School. Upon his completion of his principalship, he joined the U.S Army and served until 1946 when he was discharged. He then returned to Mason County to assume the role of principal at Woodleigh Junior High. He kept this role for a short time until he moved to Lee County to be the principal of Lee County High School. The Department of Higher Education then signed Martin to their staff as an auditor and finance director. Martin then gained his Master’s and Doctorate in Education at the University of Kentucky and Columbia University in 1951. Dr. Martin won election for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1955 and was appointed Commissioner of Finance in 1959 by Governor Bert T. Combs, a position he held through 1960. In July of 1960, Martin took office as the sixth president of Eastern Kentucky State College. Before assuming the role, Martin gained a wealth of experience in higher education Martin was chairman of the board of Eastern Kentucky University before becoming President.

Martin’s Time at EKU

Martin first focused his attention on a building program, especially on the need for dormitories. Robert R. Martin then geared towards building the program during 1960-61. Soon after the construction began for the Donovan Building, work began on the Alumni Coliseum, Martin Hall (named after Robert R. Martin), Brockton, and the Ault and Gibson buildings. In 1965, the institution underwent major academic reorganization with the creation of five separate colleges and a graduate school which are still prevalent today. Diversity and inclusion were the main priorities for President Martin, hence the addition of fraternity and sorority student life organizations in 1960. He was the creator of state-of-the-art facilities that are still prominent on campus today. Martin Hall, Alumni Collesium, and the renovations to numerous dorm halls are still some of the most famous sites on campus. During Martin’s time in office, the university was able to increase the enrollment fee and added $10 million in facilities and programs at the university. After serving as President of Eastern Kentucky University for 16 years, Martin retired on September 30th, 1976.

After Retirement

President Martin was one of the first inductees to the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame. As the President for 16 years, Martin supported the intercollegiate sports teams that are a part of the OVC. President Martin established the majority of sports complexes on the EKU campus. President Martin was instilled as the president of the 286-member American Association of State Colleges and Universities. As the president, Martin led the organization of 1.8 million students across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam. Martin was elected to a one-year term as President of the State Bank and Trust Company in March 1983. Martin had been a member of the bank board since 1976 when he retired as President of EKU. His leave from public service was short-lived, however, as he was elected to represent the Madison-Garrard-Mercer district in the state Senate. He served in the state Senate until the 1981-82 session. Martin was married to Anne Hoge (later Anne Martin) and held a leadership role at the First Presbyterian Church. He remained in Richmond until his passing in 1997. He is buried at the Richmond Cemetery.