Nicholas Martin Jr.

Nicholas Martin Jr.

Nicholas Martin Jr., loving and beloved family patriarch, business entrepreneur, philanthropist, and kind friend died on January 1, 2021. A resident of Fort Worth, he was 96.

Nicholas Martin, who was known by Nick to his friends and family, lived the American dream. He always considered himself lucky to have been born in the United States and to be blessed with the opportunities that this country afforded him. He had a fantastic sense of humor and treated everyone with kindness and respect. He was a true friend to everyone he met and a force for good and source of help to those who needed it most in his community. He was a successful businessman, real estate entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He valued hard work and believed in opportunity for everyone. He believed that everyone should lead a purposeful life, dedicated to their family and contributing to the health and well-being of their community.

He was born Feb. 23, 1924 and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan. As a child, he loved to play ice hockey and football. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European theater as a sergeant in the 94th Infantry Division.

After the war, he graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, then went to work in the wholesale building materials business with his father at Dealers Wholesale Supply.

Nick was a successful entrepreneur and after selling Dealers Wholesale Supply he helped developed Universal Pipe one of the first PVC plastic pipe producers which later became Robintech Corporation. After leaving Robintech he took over a division called Master Shield, which was an early manufacturer of vinyl siding, which he later sold. Afterwards he invested and developed real estate in Texas, Michigan, and Kansas City.

He was member of the investor group that moved the Ranger baseball team to Texas to become the Texas Rangers baseball franchise.

While he was a successful businessman Nicholas Martin made perhaps his biggest mark as a philanthropist and volunteer. He felt he had been blessed with a fruitful life and that he had a responsibility to give back to the community that had afforded him so much. He formed the Nicholas and Louella Martin Fund with the North Texas Community Foundation and has provided support to many worthy causes.

The joy of Nick's life was his family. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Louella Martin; his daughters, Cynthia Martin Adams and husband John, Christine Ellen Kraatz, and Barbara Martin; his son, Kirk Martin and wife Kathy; his stepdaughters, Julie Parker McBride, and Cynthia Parker Macdonald and husband Bob; and his stepson, David Parker and wife Nancy, he also enjoyed his 19 grandchildren and step grandchildren and his 13 great grandchildren. In his memory donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan 26777 Halsted Road, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3560.