PCBA renames annual golf tournament to honor Bill Martin
September 18-24, 2017
For the 14th consecutive year the Pulaski County Bar Association will hold a golf tournament to benefit its foundation. This year however there are a couple of significant changes. The first is that the tournament will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, rather than the usual day in May during Law Week. The second change is that the tournament this year, and henceforth, will be called the Colonel William A Martin Scholarship Golf Tournament, and all proceeds will benefit a Bar Service Scholarship in Martin’s name. The Scholarship was started to honor Martin for his many contributions and years of service to the legal profession in Pulaski County and the State of Arkansas. The Scholarship is awarded to a student at the U A Little Rock Bowen School of Law who has exhibited leadership and a commitment of service to the Bar.
After retiring from the Air Force, Colonel Martin returned to Arkansas to be executive director of the Arkansas Bar Foundation and Association. During the next 13 years he saw the Foundation’s small scholarship endowment increase to well over $1 million and significant growth in money available for legally related special projects. Arkansas Bar Association membership greatly increased during his tenure and during this time, he also helped urge the Arkansas Supreme Court adopt mandatory continuing legal education.
During his service on the Pulaski County Bar Association’s board of directors, Martin was one of a group who recognized that many worthy legal projects designed to help people in the Pulaski County area were too local for a statewide foundation. He met with capital area lawyers, notably Bill James and the late Ike Scott, and the Pulaski County Bar Foundation came to be. Today, the foundation helps to endow the Dean Morley Scholarship, conducts education activities, and has improved spaces at the courthouse, making the wait easier for trial participants and their children. Martin currently serves on the boards of both the Pulaski County Bar Foundation and Association.
Melanie Martin, the current president of the PCBF, had this to say about her friend, “When it comes to service to the Pulaski County Bar, Bill Martin is the standard. He has so much institutional knowledge from his many years on the association and foundation boards and is such a great resource for us all.”
On hearing that the tournament would carry his name, Martin said, “I’m honored that they recognize my contributions the Pulaski County Bar Foundation. I became involved early on because I knew there was a need, and it pleases me to still be a part of it.”
Martin is married to the former Mary Lou Mauderly of Strong City, Kansas. They have three children and five grandchildren.
This year’s tournament will be held the afternoon of November 3rd at War Memorial Golf Course. Tournament Chair Jonathan Warren says that in addition to the golf, they will have a cigar bar, drinks, food from Corky’s, and games.
The committee wants everyone to know that participation is not limited to lawyers and judges, and would like to extend a special invitation to Realtors and members of the UA Little Rock Alumni Association to get a team together and come join in the fun.
Compiled by the Daily Record staff and the Pulaski County Bar Association
