William "Bill" Aubert Martin

Col. William “Bill” Aubert Martin, 90, passed away September 3, 2022, at the VA Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Born in Warren, Arkansas, December 7, 1931, to Aubert and Christine Martin, he was preceded in death by his parents and only sibling, Martha Anna Martin.  He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou Mauderly Martin, three children Kathryn Gayle Gutierrez (Luis), Karen Elizabeth Caster (Paul) and Michael William Martin (Kerry), and five grandchildren:  Melissa Martin, Chris and Stephanie Gutierrez, and Ally and Ollie Martin.

A devoted family man, Bill was a retired Air Force JAG and past Executive Director of the Arkansas Bar Association.  He was active in his church, Rotary, and the Arkansas Alumni Association. He was beloved by many and dedicated to service of others.

Bill attended Warren Public Schools.  He graduated from University of Arkansas School of Law in 1955 with a JD and an Air Force ROTC commission.  He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.   He edited the Law Review while attending law school, which he considered an extraordinary accomplishment.  Under an Air Force program he earned an MBA at Arizona State University in 1969.

Bill’s father instilled an early interest in photography. Bill was photographer for his high school newsletter, Tall Timber Times, the U of A newsletter, and the Razorbacks marching band.  He was remembered for racing the quarterback to the goal line from the sidelines to capture a touch down at a football game and for climbing poles to get good pictures. He earned money as photographer at parties at the U of A starting with a big press camera and graduating to smaller more sophisticated cameras as time passed.  He was a man with at least one camera at events throughout his life.  At home family photo sessions included time for regular pictures, slides, and videos.

Bill exercised by jogging.  He ran 5Ks in connection with the annual Little Rock Marathons for a number of years, running his last 5K at the age of 85.  He enjoyed working in the yard, planting flowers, and trimming hedges.  When he moved from one place to another during his military career the yard always looked better when he left than it looked when he arrived. 

Always faithful in church attendance wherever he lived, Bill met Mary Lou in a Sunday school class for single young adults at First Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, when he was stationed at McConnell AFB.  He courted her in his big blue convertible and his boat, in which they spent a lot of time water skiing on lakes.  It didn’t take long for them to fall in love and they were married in 1963.

Bill served 28 years as an Air Force lawyer (JAG), retiring as a colonel in 1983.  Major assignments included:  Chief of Claims and Tort Litigation Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; Staff Judge Advocate, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center; Legal Advisor to Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan and Staff Judge Advocate, Fifth Air Force; and Staff Judge Advocate, Air Training Command.  His decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Services Commendation Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

Bill’s first experience with international law work came early in his Air Force career when he was stationed in Turkey from 1957-1959.  Much of our legal status was influenced by the NATO Status of Forces agreement.  He traveled to our bases all over Turkey serving as prosecutor or defense council for cases under our Uniform Code of Military Justice.  He served twice in Japan. For his work coordinating legal matters with the Japanese, Bill was honored with the Third Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure conferred upon him by his Majesty, the Emperor of Japan and presented by the Prime Minister.  He had many interesting experiences in his stateside assignments including two in Georgia, Dobbins AFB and Robins AFB; at McConnell AFB in Kansas; twice at Tinker AFB near Oklahoma City; the year in Tempe, AZ when he earned his MBA at ASU; at Headquarters in Washington, DC, while living in Fairfax, VA, and at Randolph AFB while living in San Antonio, TX.

After retiring from the Air Force Bill served as Executive Director of the Arkansas Bar Association for 13 years.  During this time he helped mandate continuing legal education, and the Arkansas Bar Association was computerized.  His efforts improved the bar’s financial shape, membership increased and meeting attendance tripled in size.

In 1997 Bill retired from his second career but remained extremely active in the legal community, his volunteer work then comprising a third unpaid career.  He served the Arkansas Bar Association for many years as unofficial photographer, historian, parliamentarian, on the Executive Council, in the House of Delegates, Board of Governors, the House Committee, the Military Assistance Task Force, the Lawyer Assistance Program Committee, the Professional Ethics Committee where he was active in working on revisions to the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct, the Senior Task Force, the Board of Governors’ Task Force on Constitutional Amendments and the Technology Committee and as Secretary-Treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee.  He received the Presidential Award and the Golden Gavel award several times each.

He was also an active member of the Pulaski County Bar Association.  He did extensive work on the Lawyers Helping Lawyers effort and helped found the Pulaski County Bar Foundation.  In 2004 he received the Pulaski County Bar Association Outstanding Lawyer Award.  In 2017 the Pulaski County Bar Foundation renamed its annual charitable golf tournament the Colonel William A. Martin Scholarship Golf Tournament to honor him for his many contributions and years of service to the legal profession in Pulaski County and the State of Arkansas. 

Bill served seven years as a Board of Trustees member of the National Conference of Bar Foundations and as its treasurer for three years. He was designated a Trustee Emeritus of the National Conference of Bar Foundations which presented him with an Award of Excellence for his years of legal philanthropy.  He was a lifetime honorary member of the National Conference of Bar Executives.   He was a senior member of the Arkansas Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.  He continued to serve on numerous committees as long as he was able.  He was described as the epitome a volunteer, ever constant, ever vigilant, always serving, an inspiration to all.

Bill maintained 37 years of perfect attendance in Club 99 of Little Rock Rotary.  He was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1993 and was bestowed Lifetime membership in 2020.  He served as president, treasurer and secretary of the Capital Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association and was presented its Heart Award as a unique individual who exemplifies the volunteer spirit, enthusiasm and commitment that is the core of the chapter. 

Bill was an avid Razorbacks fan.  He and Mary Lou had season tickets to the home football games for years until his health prevented his making the trip to Fayetteville.  He could call the Hogs anywhere.  He was a member of the Little Rock Razorback Club.

Bill was active in Lakewood United Methodist Church, having served on the Board of Stewards.  He was a member of the Open Door Sunday School Class.

Bill experienced a myriad of health issues including metastasis of prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease prior to his passing.  The Martin family expresses gratitude to the many caregivers who helped him through his final months.

Visitation:  5:00-7:00 p.m. September 13 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, North Little Rock, AR

Interment Service:  9:00 a.m. September 14 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery North Little Rock, 1501 W. Maryland Avenue

Memorial Service:  11:00 a.m. September 14 at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock, AR

Memorial Contributions may be made to:

Arkansas Bar Foundation, 2224 Cottondale Lane, Little Rock, AR 72202, memo line Col. Wm A. Martin Scholarship Fund  (Benefits students at the U of A School of Law at Fayetteville.)

Colonel William A. Martin Scholarship Endowment, Arkansas Community Foundation, 5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110, Little Rock, AR 72202 or give on-line at arcf.org  (Provides a Bar Service scholarship to a student at the UALR Bowen School of Law.)

Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock, AR  72116

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.--