Roll Call Tribute

Published in Dallas Morning News on Sept. 14, 2014

Marty Martin(1927 - 2014)
MARTIN, Marty Marty Martin, businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist dies at 87. Dallas businessman, entrepre-neur, and philanthropist, Marty Martin passed on to be with the Lord on September 12, 2014. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jackie Hubbard Martin, his three children: Kathy Parrish, Craig Martin and his wife Tonya, and Sharon Rubinett, and his three grandchildren: Christopher Martin, Haeli Martin and Joshua Rubinett. He also loved all of Jackie's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marty will long be remembered by his family and his many friends for his warmth, his genuine smile and humor, his kindness and his generosity. By his life's example he leaves a legacy of truly enjoying life each day with a positive attitude, his deep love of his wife and his family, countless close business and personal friendships, and his love of God. Marty was born on June 10, 1927 in Sweetwater, Texas. After high school graduation in January of 1945, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served as a Recruit Platoon Leader and Platoon Commander. Marty graduated from Texas A&M in 1951 and joined the U. S. Air Force, where he served as a Manpower and Management Officer at Randolph Air Force Base and then as Commanding Officer of the Headquarters Squadron Section for the 10th Air Division in the Alaskan Air Command. In 1954 he entered the life insurance business in Dallas with Southland Life Insurance Company. After several years in management and as a leading agent, he formed his own life insurance company, Martin & Associates, which was licensed and doing business in all 50 states. He changed the name of his company to Modern America Corporation, which included Modern America Life Insurance Company, Cannon & Company, a Securities Broker Dealer, Pro Services, a Mutual Fund Management company and several other financial service companies. In 1968, with regional offices across the country, Marty bought 7 acres of land and built the very first office building on LBJ Freeway for Modern America's corporate headquarters. In the seventies, as Chairman and CEO, he merged Modern America with CNA-Financial, a significant event culminating from beginning in 1960 with himself and a part time Executive Assistant. He credits his success to that assistant and the many other friends and executives he recruited who built the company. He remained Chairman of Modern America, as wholly owned subsidiary of CNA until 1980. Marty was thankful for our free enterprise system that allows a farm boy such as himself to be successful if he has good ideas and works hard. As an advocate of teaching the free enterprise system to America's youth, he supported the Boy Scouts of America, he was Chairman of Junior Achievement Dallas, purchased and donated the land for their area headquarters in Richardson, Texas and was on the National Junior Achievement Board of Directors. He was also named President of the Texas Council on Economic Education. Marty was Chairman of the Private Enterprise Committee for the Young President's Organization as well as Dallas Chapter Chairman of YPO. He was the Founder and Chairman of the Free Market Committee while on the Board of Directors of the Chief Executives Organization International. He was also a long time member of the World President's Organization. Marty was also a member of Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Bent Tree Country Club, Prestonwood Country Club, T Bar M Racquet Club, World of Tennis in Austin and the Park City Club. Marty devoted his last years literally and figuratively to dancing through life with Jackie, his "perfect mate, buddy, friend and great love". He is now celebrating with his precious Lord and Savior and looking forward to seeing his cherished family and many friends in Heaven. "What a great time of rejoicing that will be!" A memorial celebration service will be held Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 1:00 pm at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, 4124 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, Texas 75219. In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that Marty's friends make a donation to the charity of their choice .