Marvin A. Martin

Marvin A. Martin, 90, passed away on March 11, 2013 at the Norman Veteran’s Center. Marvin, a long time educator, was born on December 8, 1922, in a covered wagon in Stigler, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Trummie Arnold Martin. Marvin was the 2nd of 6 children and was also preceded in death by his sister, Mildred David and brother, V.E. “Onions” Martin. Marvin began his work life at the age of 3 selling vegetables from a horse drawn wagon for his uncle along Terwilleger Blvd. He credits Marshall Milton at Clinton Jr. High with instilling in him the love of sports, in particular football and thereby an interest in education and how the influence of one man can change a child’s life. He graduated in 1941 from Daniel Webster High School having lettered in football and wrestling. He was working as a pipefitter for Sunray DX when he, like many of this country’s heroes, enlisted in the Navy. Marvin served as a Pipe Fitter 1st Class at San Diego West Coast Sound School, was on the Navy boxing team in which he never lost a match and served aboard a floating dry dock as a Pipe Fitter 2nd Class in the South Pacific Campaign until his discharge in 1946. Upon his return, Marvin graduated from Northeastern State University where he was a three-year football letterman and an undefeated middleweight on the NSU boxing team and qualified for the Golden Gloves Tournament. He was also the captain of the 1949 football squad, was president of the NSC Letterman’s Club and received his BS in 1950. Martin coached football at Collinsville two years and football, wrestling and tennis at his alma mater, Daniel Webster from 1953-58. Martin was named the 1959 Oil Bowl Coach. He obtained his Masters in Educational Administration from Tulsa University in 1952 and his Professional Diploma in 1959. He coached the Walnut Creek, CA Los Lomas High School team to an undefeated season and moved to Sacramento, CA in 1963 as counselor and coach. In the fall of 1964 he assumed the post of Principal of Mitchell Jr. High, a new facility where he planned and executed the Floating Schedule Curriculum and which was selected as one of the top ten outstanding junior high schools in the nation. Marvin earned his Doctorate in Administrative Education from the Univ. of Arkansas in 1971 and went to work as executive assistant to the chancellor for the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Health Science Center. In 1982 Marvin returned to Oklahoma Education in both Checotah and Glenpool and completed his official career at the American Technical Institute. Upon retirement Marvin became Tulsa Public Schools Volunteer of the Year working at his alma mater, Daniel Webster and created their Peer Tutoring Program and was the counselor for at risk students. He later took the same program to the Jenks High School Football Program under Ron Lancaster as volunteer Administrative Assistant. Marvin was inducted into the Hall of Fame by both his alma maters, Daniel Webster High School and Northeastern State University. He is the author of Old Fashioned Football for Secondary Schools in the Twenty-First Century. He spent his later retirement years as part of the Spirit Banks Tuesday Morning Coaches Coffee Group; playing poker; enjoying the company of his family and always being a generous friend with his time and words of praise. Marvin is survived by his high school sweet-heart and wife of 71 years, Eula Harper Martin, of the home; one son M. Douglas Martin and his wife, Kathy of Stigler, OK; one daughter, Toby Boothe and her husband, Dr. Richard Boothe of Oklahoma City; 3 sisters, Dorothy Holtz of Searcy, Ark, Juanita McDonald and husband Harold of Broken Arrow and Wilma Law of Tulsa; Six grandchildren, Todd Martin and his wife, Tami of Sallisaw, OK; Chad Martin of Frisco, TX; Blake Martin and his wife, Jennifer of Stigler, OK; Ashley Minnich and her husband Patrick of Minster, Ohio; Brooke Henderson and her husband Danny of Oklahoma City, OK and Chelsea Hicks and her husband Adam of Washington, D.C.; Great-Grandchildren, Charlie, Ellie, Emma, Cade and Campbell Martin, Michael, Ashton, Xavier and Jolie Minnich and Ethnie, JohnPaul and Chaezell Henderson. A funeral service will be 10 am Friday, March 15, 2013 at Fitzgerald’s Southwood Colonial Chapel on 91st and Harvard, followed by interment in Memorial Park Cemetery. Viewing will be from 9am – 5pm on Wednesday and Thursday at Fitzgerald’s. The family will visit with friends from 4pm – 6pm on Thursday at Fitzgerald’s. Eulogy will be made by Ron Lancaster. Pallbearers will be Gene Shell, Ron Lancaster, Charlie Prigmore and Gene Hart. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Spirit Bank Coaches Coffee Group and his Poker Group of Peck Allen, Bill Jarrett, Ralph Huntsman, Ralph Green and In Memory of Lewis Maxwell. Memorial Contributions may be made to Daniel Webster High School, 1919 W. 40th St. Tulsa, 74107 or the Haskell County Shrine Club – Cripple Children Fund, 413 E. Queen Street, Hoyt, OK 74472. Please sign Marv’s online guestbook at mallorymartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements and Services are under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home, Fitzgerald’s Funeral Home and family friend Jim Parks.

Marvin A. Martin

December 8, 1922 - March 11, 2013