Auburn University's 14th President James "Jim" Martin died Saturday, June 3. He served from 1984 until retirement in 1992.
Martin earned a bachelor's degree from Auburn in agricultural management in 1954. He was born in Vinemont, Alabama, in 1932.
Martin spent the majority of his adolescence in Greensboro, Alabama. After leaving Auburn, he began graduate school at North Carolina State University. He received his master's degree in agricultural economics in 1956. He received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
During his college years, he met his wife, Ann Freeman, a cheerleader at the time. They were married and had three children.
At the time of his leadership, Auburn secured $111 million of private capital contributions and pledges. An administrative reconstruction took place, as well as a university-wide salary increase of approximately 25 percent. Martin established a state recruiting plan that targeted in-state students.
He was a member of the Auburn Rotary Club during his time in Auburn and after retirement, the James E. Martin Aquatics Center took his name.
Before returning to his alma mater, he taught at the University of Maryland, Oklahoma State University and was dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was president of the University of Arkansas from 1971-73 and 1975-77.
A colleague from Charles Bishop, former University of Arkansas president, made a comment upon hiring him at the University of Arkansas.
"I regard him as one of the truly outstanding agricultural leaders in the United States," Bishop said.
Auburn President Jay Gogue expressed thoughts about Martin's time at Auburn
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," Gogue said. "He touched the lives of countless students throughout his career and he had many accomplishments during his time as president and in his other academic positions."
Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle, Alabama will be in charge of arrangements. These plans are to be announced later.
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