Norman K. Martin Focused On Forest Management

Norman Kittell Martin, who guided Roy O. Martin Lumber into cutting-edge forestry and conservation in the 1950s and 1960s, died March 10 surrounded by his family in Kansas City. He was 93.

He was born in Alexandria, La. in 1926 to Mildred and Roy Martin, only a few years after Roy Martin started Roy O. Martin Lumber. The fourth of five children, Norman grew up during the depression and embodied the strong work ethic of his parents and the frugality of the times.

He attended Louisiana Tech before serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during the final year of World War II. While working in the family business, he married Lorraine Bentley from Winthrop, Minn. in 1950. They had seven children.

Working alongside his brothers in the company, Norman’s first major responsibility was with the forestry division, supervising that group while also working with logging operations. He assisted the company’s land acquisitions, surveying prospective purchases and marking boundaries. His introduction of applying bright yellow paint and bold ROM lettering on trees to mark property boundaries became a mainstay for the Martin operations Implementing techniques learned from an experiment station in Crossett, Ark., Norman implemented timber-stand improvement (TSI) practices. He was also instrumental in reforestation on Martin land. In 1962 he also became manager of Martin’s Colfax Creosoting business.

In 1967, while continuing to serve on the board, he left daily activities in the family business and started a real estate development company. His passion for helping those less fortunate led him to build affordable housing in underprivileged sections of Alexandria. He expanded into apartment development, mini-storage operations and estate planning.

Above all, Martin was a committed churchman and deacon. His strong Christian faith and convictions led him to persistently give away most anything he had—money, clothes, food—to the less fortunate. His manner with others was sincere interest and easy conversation without seeking attention for himself.

Martin was known as a civic mover and shaker in central Louisiana. He co-founded the Central Louisiana Community Foundation. He also founded the Alexandria chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He and Lorraine supported many charitable organizations, among them the Martin Performing Arts Center at Louisiana College, The Kauffman Center in Kansas City, the KC Community Foundation, Rotary, Gideons, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Harvesters.

He and Lorraine moved to Kansas City in the early 2000s.

He is predeceased by many family members but is survived by Lorraine, following 69 years of marriage.

A memorial service will be held in both Kansas City and Alexandria at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers please donate to Habitat for Humanity, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City Hospice House, or the charity of your choice.