James B. Martin, Jr.

A memorial service for James B. “Jim” Martin, 66, Lawrence, will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt. Inurnment will immediately follow at Pioneer Cemetery.
Mr. Martin died Thursday, April 8, 2010, in Lawrence.
He was born Sept. 14, 1943, in New Orleans, the son of James B. Martin Sr. and Marcile May Coates.
Mr. Martin grew up in Wichita. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Wichita State University in 1965, and a master’s degree in English from Kansas University in 1968.
Mr. Martin was first employed by Valley City State College in North Dakota teaching English. From 1971 to 1974, he served as an assistant to the president. He planned and developed the first College Relations program serving as executive director of the foundation, director of College Relations and alumni director.
Mr. Martin returned to Lawrence in 1974 and worked with the KU Endowment Association. He served as director of program development from 1974 to 1976, vice president for private support programs from 1976 to 1983, senior vice president from 1983 to 1987, executive vice president from 1987 to 1991, and president from 1991 to 2002. From 1985 to 1992, he served as executive campaign director for Campaign Kansas, a $177 million campaign, which 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.
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 KU from the KU Alumni Association. He was an avid sailor, world traveler, and invested many hours in genealogical research.
He married Kathy Koenig on June 27, 1971, in Kulm, N.D. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include a son, Grant and wife Ginger Blevins Martin, Eudora; two grandchildren, Georgia Martin and Benjamin Martin; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Angie Koenig; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Nancy Hieb; his mother-in-law, Edna Koenig; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will meet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials to the James B. Martin Scholarship Fund at the KU Endowment Association or to the Heart of America Hospice, sent in care of the mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
Online condolences may be sent at warrenmcelwain.com.