Jim Martin, president of the Kansas University Endowment Association for the past 11 years, will be retiring from the association later this year and will be succeeded, effective today, by Dale Seuferling, current executive vice president of the association.

The announcement was made by Dolph C. Simons Jr., chairman of the association’s board of trustees. He said Martin, who has been with the association for more than 28 years, has offered to provide assistance during the transition.

“Jim Martin has compiled a superior record throughout the 28 years he has been with the association,” Simons said, “and I speak for all members of our executive committee when I say Jim will be missed. We are most appreciative of his many contributions to the association and through the association to the university.”

Simons said executive committee members were enthusiastic in naming Seuferling to succeed Martin and that the association was fortunate to have an individual with Seuferling’s knowledge of the association and the respect he enjoys from the staff and trustees to move into the presidency.

Seuferling joined the Endowment Association in 1981 after serving as broadcast media coordinator for KU’s university relations office. His positions with the association include public relations, constituent development, and major gifts and fund-raising management.

As executive vice president for development, he oversees and is campaign director for the association’s current capital campaign, KU First, which has a goal of raising $500 million.

The association, which is independent of the university, reported assets of more than $1 billion in its last annual statement and distributes more than $65 million annually in support of university activities and programs.

When Martin joined the association in 1974, the association’s assets were about $48 million. Martin began his career with the association as director of program development and held positions as vice president for private support programs, senior vice president, executive vice president and his current position as president. From 1985 to 1992 he also served as campaign director for Campaign Kansas, the association’s $177 million drive for the benefit of the university. Campaign contributions far exceeded the goal with $265 million raised over the several year effort.

Martin succeeded Todd Seymour as president.

Simons said he and executive committee members believe it is a tribute to Martin that he has assembled such a top-flight staff that they were able to promote someone from within the organization rather than having to initiate an outside search to find a new president.

“It has been a personal pleasure to work with Jim,” Simons said. “He and his wife, Kathy, always have represented the association in a first-class manner. He will be missed but we have the utmost confidence Dale will do a superb job as president.”

Simons said it was interesting to point out Seymour was president at the time Campaign Kansas was launched with Martin serving as campaign director. Seymour retired and Martin moved into the presidency. Now, Simons pointed out, Martin has been president during the beginning and approximately first half of KU First with Seuferling serving as campaign director. Now, Seuferling moves into the presidency.

The Endowment Association was started in 1891 and is the nation’s oldest foundation of its type at a state university. Over the years it has provided more than $925 million for the benefit of the university and its faculty and students, while at the same time, building assets valued at even more than that amount.

The Endowment Association has 156 employees at its main office located on association land on KU’s West Campus with a substantially smaller office located at the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City.