Lawrence A. Martin

Lawrence A. Martin, Sr., was born August 13, 1913 in rural Newton County, Arkansas. He was the son of Arwine Yates and Montie Jane (Lawrence) Martin. He was raised near Newton in North Central, Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains. Residing in this area near the Buffalo River influenced his love for wildlife and the outdoors, including hunting and fishing, which he pursued throughout his life. He attended school in Mount Judea schools, graduating from Mount Judea High School in 1931. At an early age, Lawrence developed an interest in land surveying and engineering. After graduation he attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. He began a career in civil engineering in 1936 when he accepted employment with the United States Corps of Army Engineers. In 1940, he met Doris Maud Hudson, who was from Charleston, Arkansas. The couple moved frequently during their early years of marriage as Lawrence was employed by the United States Corps of Engineers and relocated following each grading period of school in which their daughter, Doris was attending; usually every four or eight weeks. Lawrence took a two years leave of absence from the Corp of Engineers during World War II as the was inducted into the United States Navy serving from 1943 to 1945; assigned to duty working for Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Lawrence returned to the Fort Smith, Arkansas area where he was working out of the Corps of Engineer office in Little Rock. The Martin family later moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma in 1953 when Mr. Martin was part of the group of personnel assigned to the Corps of Engineers that originally colonized the Tulsa District Office. During the next twenty years, Lawrence surveyed nearly all of the Corp Lakes in Oklahoma after having assisted in establishing the District Office. Additionally, he worked extensively on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System surveying project and assisted with establishing the embankments along the project. Later, Mr. Martin was selected as the resident engineer for Lake Keystone and supervised the construction and design of nearly all the parks, boat ramps and roads around Keystone Lake. He was also responsible for the conditions of the levees constructed around Cleveland which have been a model for the U S Corps of Engineer Levee systems throughout the United States. He retired from his position with the Corps of Engineers in 1973 after thirty-seven years of service. Mr. Martin was a longtime member of the Oklahoma State Board of Licensure For Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Additionally, he was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign War and an member of the Hebron Masonic Lodge in Cleveland. He enjoyed spending time outdoors and was an avid hunter for many years. He raised and field trialed bird dogs for many years including setters and pointers. He also enjoyed horses and cattle which he maintained on his farm near Blackburn. His passion however came from his engineering training in that he loved to design almost anything including ponds and building and just about any project you could think of. He was described by his family and friends as a strong willed, intelligent father who was caring and loyal and at times could be somewhat opinionated. He passed away on Monday, February 1, 2010 at the St John Medical Center at the age of ninety-six after recently breaking his hip following his usual morning of feeding the horses and cattle and having breakfast at the Hickory House. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Maud in 1985; brother, Arthur Arwine Martin and three sisters, Elsie, Iva, and Gracie. Lawrence is survived by a son and his wife, Lawrence A. and Diana Martin of Cleveland; a daughter, Doris K. Raney of Cleveland; six grandchildren, Michael W. Raney of Oberlin, Ohio, William P. and wife, Danielle H. Raney of Corpus Christi, Texas, Nancy E. Raney of Lansing, Michigan, Emily A. Raney of Chicago, Illinois, L. Aaron Martin of Blackburn, Oklahoma and Stephanie G. Downey of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; and two great-grandchildren, Sophia Gabrielle Leon-Raney and Marley G. Downey.