Emeritus Assistant Professor of Economics Mary Inez Martin, whose career spanned the three faces of UALR, died peacefully Saturday, June 18. She was 96. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, followed by 9:30 a.m. funeral at the chapel of Ruebel Funeral Home and burial at Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Martin Athletic Scholarship Fund at UALR.

Martin joined Little Rock Junior College in 1946 to teach classes in “secretarial science.” In 1966, she earned a masters of education degree, specializing in counseling, curriculum, and instruction. By 1968, she held the title of assistant professor of economics.

“Inez was a young faculty member in 1949 when the Little Rock Junior College football team won the chance to compete in the Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.,” said Mary Boaz, UALR’s director of planned giving. “She accompanied the cheer squad out there, a trip made by bus – not train, as she loved to point out.”

She said the one of the highlights of the trip was meeting Hollywood stars Esther Williams and Van Johnson. The Trojans won the game 25-19 against Santa Ana Junior College.

“In 2006, when the LRJC Football Team members were inducted into the UALR Sports Hall of Fame,  Inez was awarded a LRJC Junior Rose Bowl pendant and recognized for her contribution to that great occasion,” Boaz said.