The Kearney Daily Hub [Kearney, NE], Saturday, 18 July 1936, p. 1

President George E. Martin Dies At His Home Today
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The State Teachers’ College Head Succumbs After Long Illness; Had Spent Weeks in the Hospital.

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FUNERAL AT THE COLLEGE
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Rites Will Be Held In Auditorium, Monday Morning at Ten O'Clock.
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     George Ellsworth Martin, 64, faculty member at Kearney State Teachers College for 21 years, and president of the institution for the past 17 years, died at his home at four o'clock this morning.  He had been critically ill for weeks, and was moved from the hospital to his home only recently, at his own request, although his condition had shown no improvement.
     Mrs. Martin and three daughters survive:  Mrs. Kathryn Rondthaler, Miss Alice Martin, and Mrs. William Little.  One sister, Miss Anna Martin, also survives.
     Funeral rites will be held Monday morning at ten o'clock in the Kearney college auditorium, with the Rev. Paul Hillman and Dr. Harry Hess, of Omaha, both former Methodist pastors here, in charge.
     For the present at least, affairs of the college will continue to be administered by the faculty committee selected recently by the state board of education to serve during the president's continued illness.  Comptroller Fred W. Andersen, serving with the committee in an advisory capacity, indicated the selection of a successor to President Martin would be a lengthy process.
     President Martin was born in Falls City, Neb., March 19, 1872, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elza Martin.  He was graduated from the Peru State Normal college in 1909, received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Nebraska in 1914, and his master of arts degree from Columbia university in 1919.
     He was married to Alice Kriger of Clinton; Ky., on June 12, 1895, and four daughters were born to them, one of whom preceded her father in death.
     Martin began his teaching career in 1893 as an instructor in rural schools in southeastern Nebraska.  In 1899 he became principal of the Dawson Public schools and continued in that capacity until 1903, when he took a similar position at Nebraska City.  He was elected superintendent of the Nebraska City schools in 1908 and served until he joined the Kearney State Teachers college faculty in 1915.
     At the Kearney institution he was head of the English department from 1915 to 1917, head of the teacher training department from 1917 to 1919, and president since 1919.
     President Martin, since his arrival seventeen years ago, witnessed consistent growth of the Kearney State Teachers College and was, in great measure, responsible for the upbuilding of that institution.  In 1919, the year of his arrival, the college enrollment stood at 305.  This year

K. S. T. C. PRESIDENT PASSES AWAY

     George Ellsworth Martin, sixty-four, a member of the Kearney Teachers college faculty since 1915, and president of the institution since 1919, died early this morning at his home here.  He had been critically ill for weeks at a local hospital, and was returned to his home recently at his own request, although no improvement in his condition had been shown.

the registration was 825.  The teaching faculty at that time was limited to thirty-six members, today the number has reached 55.  Of the former group ten served without degrees.  Today eight members have their doctor's degree; forty their master's degree; six the degree of bachelor, with only one having no degree.  The number of degrees granted before Mr. Martin became president totalled 27, since that time it has reached 866.
     He was president of the Nebraska Association of Superintendents and Principals in 1906 and was a member of the National Education association, Nebraska Schoolmasters’ club, and Phi Delta Kappa.
     In 1910 Martin collaborated with J. W. Searson, long time instructor at Peru State Teachers college, in writing “Studies in Reading,” an English textbook.  State department of instruction attaches described this work as “one of the best known English texts, especially adapted for use in junior year of high school.”

The Kearney Daily Hub [Kearney, NE], Monday, 20 July 1936, p. 1

Rites for College President Held at The Auditorium
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Impressive Services Pay Tribute to the Late Administrator of Kearney Teachers College This Morning.

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Drs. Hillman and Hess In Charge; Both Former Pastors Here.
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     A crowd that filled the big Kearney college auditorium this morning paid silent tribute to the memory of President George E. Martin, who had administered affairs of the institution for seventeen years.
     Dr. Harry Hess, of Omaha, and Paul Hillman, Methodist District superintendent here, both former Kearney pastors, conducted the funeral services.
     The body lay in state, amidst a beautiful floral display, at the center of the auditorium stage.
     A song, “America,” preceded the reading of President Martins’ obituary by Dr. Hess.  He paused during the reading to comment that the history of the late president’s career is “certainly a commendable and blessed record.”
     The choir, directed by D. Ralph Appelman, sang “Somewhere the Sun Is Shining, and Dr. Hess then read the scripture selection and led in prayer.
     Preceding a tribute by Dr. Hillman, the choir sang “Blest Be the Tie.”
     “George Ellsworth Martin needs no eulogy,” Dr. Hillman said  “The qualities of his manhood and the achievements of his career speak for him.
     “This Teachers’ college is his best monument.
     “Emerson is quoted as saying that an institution is ‘the lengthening shadow of a man,’  This is impressively true of the relation of George E. Martin to the Kearney State Teachers college.”

The Kearney Daily Hub [Kearney, NE], Tuesday, 21 July 1936, p. 3

TRIBUTE PAID TO MEMORY OF
GEO. E. MARTIN BY DR. HILLMAN

     The following tribute was paid by Dr. Paul Hillman, superintendent of the Kearney district of the Methodist church, to the late George E. Martin, president of the Kearney State Teachers college, at the funeral services held in the college auditorium on Monday morning.
                                    ––––––––
     George Ellsworth Martin needs no eulogy  The qualities of his manhood and the achievements of his career speak for him.
     This Teachers college is his best monument.  He came here while it was still considered by many to be in the experimental stage.  The equipment was meagre and the enrollment one-third of what it now is.  Under his leadership the school rose to its present place of pre-eminent leadership—a fully accredited college of the North Central association.
     President Martin labored unceasingly to secure the buildings and equipment which now grace this campus.  He was tireless in his efforts to add to the enrollment and sphere of influence of the college.  Yet it can never be said of him that he compromised quality or scholastic standards or resorted to unethical methods of competition.
     Seated here in a body is a notable faculty.  Almost every member was personally selected and recommended by President Martin.  He was constantly on the alert to secure teachers of promise.  He looked not only at their degrees and experience, he was profoundly concerned about their character, influence and personality.  The results are so well known as to need no comment.
     Emerson is quoted as stating that an institution is the lengthening shadow of a man.  This is impressively true of the relation of George E. Martin to the Kearney State Teachers college.
     There are many things which might be repeated about President Martin as an educator—his passion for accuracy and punctuality, his emphasis on efficiency and thoroughness, his never flagging enthusiasm for education and the prestige of his profession—but most of you who are here know these things as well or better than I.  But underlying his attitude toward life and his work was a quality greater than those I have mentioned, the element of his character and personality from which the other sprang, and that which largely, gave them their perfection and meaning.  I refer to the fact that the welfare of personality was a far greater thing to him than any abstract principles.  He put human welfare ahead of material concerns.  The ideas he most heartily cherished were those of the intrinsic worth of the boys and girls, the men and women with whom he dealt.
     It was this that marked him as an administrator.  His work was so largely creative because of this characteristics.  A thorough-going disciplinarian, he was never a martinet.  He saw beyond the immediate perplexities of any problem.  To him was given the seeing eye to discern values and possibilities beneath the surface.  He had the long look, especially when dealing with people.  In his efforts to help those with whom he dealt he was forever going the second mile.
     He was always helping the unfortunate.  The sum of his unostentatious charities will never be known.  In one of the well-earned tributes given him while he was still alive was mentioned the fact that he tramped miles and miles of street, through all kinds of weather, here in Kearney, personally looking for work for students who otherwise would have to give up a cherished dream of education.  Out of his own pocket, again and again, he loaned and gave money, to the limit of his financial ability—and beyond.
     Educational measurements are inadequate to give an appreciation of the scope of his influence.  He knew that he dealt with imponderables.  He had rare skill in bringing out the latent best, the hidden resources, of students and teachers.  He inspired them to outdo themselves.  To the responsive and the receptive he imparted a double portion of his own spirit.  The roll of  those who bear the impress of his genius and skill as a teacher is too long to be called here.  It includes a former governor of this state, other recognized leaders in every field, and particularly in education, not only throughout this state, but also all over this country and possibly beyond.
     The breadth of his interests and the reach of his vision were shown by his relation to community interests.  He embodied and personified the principals of the Rotary club to which he was so proud to belong.  He believed with all his heart in “service before self,” and “he profits most who serves best.”  Yet as a Rotarian he repeatedly        

emphasized the truth that Rotary is not an end in itself, but must always be an instrument justified in its existence only as it upbuilt personal character and community welfare.  He was a familiar figure in our chamber of commerce where his counsel and guidance were eagerly sought and heeded.  His voice was invariably on the side of righteousness and practical idealism.
     A constant concern of President Martin was the moral and religious welfare of both student body and community.  I have noticed and heard many others speak of the fact that the relation of the college faculty and student body to the churches of the city has been superior to that which exists between many so called religious schools and the churches of their affiliation.  George Martin can never be accused of interfering with religious freedom or liberty of conscience.  He respected the American principle of separation of church and state.  But he was just as firmly convinced that no education is complete which neglects the spiritual.  He would round out the training of the mind with the culture of the soul.  He was interested in a religion which should meet the vital needs of today.  He wanted a faith which could meet the tests of the scientific spirit.  Because he was a searcher whose soul must ever be reaching upward and seeking, he did not come to complete satisfaction.  But he never ceased to climb, even though at times the going was hard and questioning faith brought him to many spiritual struggles.
     Abraham Lincoln is said to have once declared that when any church inscribed above its portals the Savior’s great commandment to love the Lord our God with all the heart, mind and strength and one's neighbor as oneself, as its sole article of creed, confession of faith, and membership requirement, he would at once wholeheartedly join that church.  George Martin's idea of a church was cut according to the same pattern.  We all sadly realize how imperfectly any of our ecclesiastical organizations have yet realized this ideal.  Yet he did not for that reason hold back from supporting and upholding the church.  But he was hoping and reaching out for a church which should emphasize the values he loved most instead of the traditional orthodoxy which ill-fitted the rigorous requirement of his analytical mind.  Those of us with whom he some times, though rarely, for he had a reserve we all respected, discussed on these matters know he was instinctively and inherently religious in a manner that transcends any formal orthodoxy or mere churchmanship, valuable as that may be to some people and in certain respects.
     At the hospital and in his home during the past weeks he sang over and over again some of the hymns which are being used in this service.
     Mrs. Martin remembers that one of the poems he loved best was Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar.”  I can think of no better way of closing this tribute of loving friendship, or of any more adequate epitome of his faith.

[NOTE: The poem cited above was not included in the newspaper story but is added here for completeness.]

Crossing the Bar
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star,
     And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
     When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
     Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
     Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
     And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
     When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
     The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
     When I have crost the bar.

Obituaries for Alice

The Kearney Daily Hub [Kearney, NE], Monday, 23 October 1944, p. 1

Mrs. George Martin, Widow of Former College Head, Dies

     The death of Mrs. George Martin, about 70, occurred at Portland, Ore., Oct. 15, and the body is to be brought to Kearney Thursday for burial.
     Mrs. Martin was the wife of George Martin, president of the Teachers college here from 1919 until 1936.  Prior to becoming president Mr. Martin was head of the college English department.  He died more than a year ago.
     Daughters surviving are Inez Martin, Portland, Mrs. Catherine Rondthaler, also of Oregon, and Mrs. Frances Little, Memphis, Tenn.  Mrs. Little and a granddaughter, Ruth Fowler, will accompany the body here.

The Kearney Daily Hub [Kearney, NE], Saturday, 28 October 1944, p. 10

     Services for Mrs. George Martin at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bower mortuary were in charge of the Rev. D. R. Roker, and burial was in the Kearney cemetery.  Casketbearers were Wallace Thornton, Bert Wallace, Dewey Kring, Otto Olsen, H. G. Stout, L. E. Mantor.

The Kearney Daily Hub [Kearney, NE], Saturday, 28 October 1944, p. 5

      ⬤   Obituary

     Funeral services for Mrs. Geo. E. Martin were held Thursday afternoon, October 26, in the Bower Funeral Home at 3:30 p.m.  Alice K. Martin was born April 13, 1868 in Columbus, Kentucky.  While attending art school in Ft. Scott, Kansas she met and married George E. Martin and to this union four daughters were born.  They made their home in Nebraska City until 1915 when they moved to Kearney.  George Martin was president of the Teachers College here from 1919 to 1936.  Prior to becoming president Mr. Martin was head of the college English department.  Mr. Martin and one daughter, Ruth E., preceded Mrs. Martin in her death.
     Surviving are three daughters, Inez Martin, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Frances Little, Memphis, Tenn.; Mrs. Kathe­rine Rondthaler, Walla Walla, Wash.; six grandchildren, Mrs. Ruth Fowler, Idaho; Mrs. Sylva Gray, Florida; Martin Little, U. S. Navy, Mary Alice Rondthaler, Nurse Corps, Jeanne and Jimmy Rondthaler, Washington; and one great grandchild, Becky Jo Gray.
                    CARD OF THANKS
     We wish to thank our friends for their sympathy and floral offerings in tribute to our mother and grandmother.
                              The Martin Family