James B. Martin

A memorial service for James B. “Jim” Martin, 66, Lawrence, Kansas, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street, in Lawrence.  Inurnment will immediately follow the service at Pioneer Cemetery.  Friends and family are invited to the church gathering area for light refreshments, following the inurnment.  He died Thursday, April 08, 2010, in Lawrence, KS.

He was born on September 14, 1943 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of James B. Martin Sr. and Marcile May Coates.  He grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and received his B.A., in English, from Wichita State University in 1965.  He then went on to receive a M.A., in English, from the University of Kansas in 1968.

Mr. Martin was first employed by Valley City State College in North Dakota teaching English.  From 1971-1974 he served as Assistant to the President.  During this time, he planned and developed the first College Relations program serving as Executive Director of the Foundation, Director of College Relations, and  Alumni Director.

He returned to Lawrence in 1974 and began his employment of 28 years with the KU Endowment Association.  He served as Director of Program Development from 1974-1976, Vice President for Private Support Programs from 1976-1983, Senior Vice President from 1983-1987, Executive Vice President from 1987-1991, and President from 1991-2002.  In his 28 years of service Mr. Martin helped KU Endowment grow from 48 million in assets to over 1 billion.  From 1985-1992, he served as Executive Campaign Director for Campaign Kansas, a $177 million campaign to benefit the University of Kansas.  The final achievement totaled $265.3 million on June 30, 1992.  In 2001, he helped launch KU First, the third of its kind at KU, with a goal of $500 million.  Upon retirement in 2002, Mr. Martin was elected Trustee Emeritus to the board of the KU Endowment Association.

In addition to his work at KU, he was also involved in civic programs.  He was a member of the Lawrence Noon Rotary Club, and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. He served on the board of directors for the First United Methodist Church, the Watkins Community Museum and the Douglas County Bank.

In 2007, Mr. Martin received the Fred B. Ellsworth Medallion for distinguished service to the University of Kansas from the KU Alumni Association.

He was an avid sailor, world traveler, and invested many hours in genealogical research.

He married his wife, Kathy Koenig Martin on June 27, 1971 in Kulm, North Dakota.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Grant and wife, Ginger Blevins Martin, Eudora, KS, two grandchildren; Georgia Martin and Benjamin Martin,  brother-in-law and sister-in-law Tom & Angie Koenig, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Nancy Hieb, two nephews; Christopher Koenig and Rob Hieb, two nieces; Laura Koenig and Jennifer Hieb, and his mother-in-law, Edna Koenig.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family will meet friends from at 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 12th, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

The family suggests memorials to the James B. Martin Scholarship Fund at the K.U. Endowment Association or to the Heart of America Hospice and may be sent in care of the mortuary.