Founder of EAP and Houston Women's Center Dies

David W. Martin, Ph.D., 85, founding director of the Employee Assistance Program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a founder of the Houston Area Women's Center,
died Nov. 3.

David W. Martin, Ph.D

One of the original faculty members of the UT School of Public Health when it was established in 1969, Martin served in numerous capacities before his retirement in 1998. He was professor of sociology and health education; director of the Outreach Education Program; and a convener in urban health, behavioral sciences, occupational health/aerospace medicine, and health promotion/health education. During 1996, he was acting assistant dean for the School of Public Health San Antonio Program.

Martin was co-principal investigator of a grant that created the UT Health Science Center at Houston's Employee Assistance Program in 1978 and served as director until 1988.

A native of Pennsylvania, Martin served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He received bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Ohio State University.

From 1959-66, he was on the faculty at the University of Southern California, being promoted to professor and chairman of the Department of Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education, and director of the Urban Semester Program. During his years at USC, he taught on the CBS-TV "Odyssey" series, produced a national ABC documentary, and hosted several radio series.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mae; and three children, Lynn Thompson of Post Falls, Idaho; Gretchen Umsted of Cave Junction, Oregon; and Dave W. Martin Jr. of North Fork, Calif.

Memorial services were Dec. 1 at the School of Public Health. Contributions may be made to the Dr. David W. Martin Scholarship Fund, UT School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Suite W128, Houston, TX 77030

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