Ronnie Martin

1936-2018

June 18, 1936 Chickasha, Oklahoma

Married to Thelma Boullt Martin

Five grown children: Thomas Martin, David Martin, Tommy Boullt, Lindsey Boullt, Susanne Boullt Oakley

Seven Grandchildren: David McMann, Jamie McMann, Josh Martin and wife Brittney, David de la Torre and Wife Anissa, Matthew Boullt, Mitchell Boullt, Samuel Wiseman, and Dakota Oakley

Six Great Grandchildren: Brendan Martin, Ethan Martin, Brianna Martin, Lacey Martin, Ashton Rivers Overson, Ezra Boullt de la Torre

He is preceded in death by his parents: Paul and Bernice Martin.

He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas where his father was a band director in several area schools.

Education/Training: Hubbard Heights Elementary Rosemont Jr. High School Paschal High School

Bachelor of Music Education, Texas Christian University, 1958

Master of Education Administration, Texas Christian University, 1961

Completed all but dissertation toward Doctor of Educational Leadership, University of North Texas, 1970

Tyndale Theological Seminary, Hebrew Language Emphasis, 1997

Ronnie Martin attended TCU from 1954 to 1961, graduating with a BME and a MEd.Ad. While there, he sat first chair trumpet in the TCU marching and symphonic bands his freshman year and for all four years he was there under the direction of Lew Gillis and Jim Jacobson. He also served as Vice President of the band for two years. He played lead trumpet in the stage band and principal trumpet in the TCU Symphony Orchestra all four years.

While still a freshman at TCU, he began playing in the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra under the baton of Rudolph Kruger. Shortly thereafter, he was principal trumpet in the newly formed Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Hull. He continued to play principal and section trumpet in the Fort Worth Symphony and the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra for ten years.

In his sophomore year, he became the first band director in Burleson ISD for one year and his junior year, he became the band director in Azle ISD for three years. When he arrived at Azle ISD he found they had no alma mater. He wrote a song for the alma mater which the school sings to this day. After graduation, he became the Band and Orchestra Director at Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth. His band at Eastern Hills High School had the distinct honor to play at the breakfast given for President and Mrs. J. F. Kennedy when they came to Fort Worth in 1963 at the Texas Hotel in Fort Worth. When he and his class arrived back in their classroom they heard that President JFK had been assassinated in Dallas.

Between his sophomore and junior years, he toured with the Ted Weems Orchestra as lead trumpet for the summer (John Giordano was playing lead alto sax at the same time.) and he toured with the Tex Beneke Orchestra during the Christmas break. His senior year, he played a short tour as lead trumpet with the Ralph Marterie Orchestra. Later, he toured with the Les Elgart Orchestra.

During his Junior year, he was music director for a weekly radio show broadcast over KTCU from the Brown/Lippton Student Center Auditorium called “Previews In Purple” which featured his seven piece orchestra and local DJ Ken Crusan hosted and promoted happenings around the TCU campus.

Both the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Fort Worth Press reviewed his senior trumpet recital. The Fort Worth Press review included a large picture and a half-page article.

During his years in school he won many awards for his musical ability. He is proud also of a special award he received in elementary school. It is entitled “1948 Duncan Yo-Yo Winner”.

He has played lead trumpet in most local bands and orchestras in the Fort Worth/Dallas area. He also played lead trumpet in the Miss Texas Pageant Orchestra, Shrine Circus Band, Southwestern Exposition Stock Show Rodeo Band, and back-up orchestras for Steve Lawrence and Eddye Gorme, Pat Boone, Carmon Cavalero, Bob Crosby, Charlie Applewhite, The DeCastro Sisters, Bob Newhart, Herb Shriner, Sally Rand, Betty Buckley, and Ray Price.

He formed the Ronnie Martin Orchestra in 1970’s and has played in all of the area country clubs, hotels and ballrooms. He provided the orchestra for Liberace for the Fort Worth arena show in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. He also provided the orchestra for Joy Garret and for the Moslah Shrine Circus.

In 1987, the Ronnie Martin Orchestra was featured in a video for the education market called “The Story of the Big Bands.” Ronnie also wrote and produced the show. In 1996-97, he produced the First Saturday Concerts, a series of monthly concerts in Shannon Auditorium which featured the 21 piece Ronnie Martin Orchestra and Singers and was cosponsored by radio station KAAM.

Ronnie Martin is a prolific writer and arranger. He began arranging in high school and his arrangements were performed by the Paschal High School band on the field at half time. He also wrote for the TCU Marching Band. He has written over one thousand arrangements for his own Ronnie Martin Orchestra. In addition, he has arranged for Ted Weems, Les Elgart, and the Miss Texas Pageant.

After eight years as Band and Orchestra Director at Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth, He became Director of Project Muse; a music education project which employed 28 full time symphony musicians providing music programs in seventy North Texas School Districts plus a symphony concert series with the full Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium. The Project continued for 3 years.

In addition to music, Ronnie’s professional and business interests are wide and varied. He was a media consultant for the Education Service Center, Region XI in Fort Worth which is a regional office for the Texas Public Schools which served over 80 school districts in North Central Texas. He later served as Director of Curriculum and Staff Development there for twenty years. He was responsible for training of over 15,000 school superintendents, principals, teachers, and teacher aides in new techniques as well as refresher courses and workshops. He and his staff assisted school districts in the development of courses of study and in implementing state mandated curriculum changes.

He has served as President of Dynamic Learning Systems, Inc., 1965-1970; a non-profit educational corporation producing AV materials for schools and state agencies; and as President of Continental Professional Productions, Inc., 1980-1995; a for-profit corporation specializing in show production and promotions.

He wrote a course in 1987 for the Standing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee of North Texas called “Personal and Family Resource Management” which was taught to over 500 new filers each month in 5 different federal bankruptcy court jurisdictions in Texas. The two-day course was taught weekly for 8 years to over 150,000 people across North Texas.

Donations in Ronnie’s memory may be made to the Bill Collins Benefit Fund which helps the members of Local 72-147 DFW musicians in crisis. Send your check payable in any amount to the Bill Collins Benefit Fund, 1939 Stadium Oaks Court, STE 110, Arlington, TX 76011.