Charles Richard Martin

Mr. Charles Richard Martin, 53, Assistant Professor at Columbia State Community College, and resident of Perkins Lane, died Wednesday, August 10, 2005 at Maury Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m., Friday in Cherry Auditorium at Columbia State Community College with Rev. Wayne Parks officiating. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4- 8 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1212, Columbia, TN, 38402 or Mt. Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 689, Mt. Pleasant, TN, 38474 or the Ricky Martin Scholarship Fund, 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of Roy Gene Martin and Hazel Willoughby Martin of Columbia. He was a 1970 graduate of Columbia Central High School and received his A.S. at Columbia State Community College in Physical Education in 1972, and B.S. in 1975 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 1988 he received his M.S. from Middle Tennessee State University in Physical Education, Recreation and Safety. Ricky came back as a full-time employee of Columbia State when he was hired as the Director of Student Activities in January 1977. In this role, Ricky worked with the student government association and put together a very successful and active student program for the college. In January 2000 Ricky applied for and was hired as a full-time instructor of physical education and aquatics. During spring 2000 he was appointed program coordinator for the health and physical education department. In fall 2004 he was promoted to assistant professor and in August 2005 he was awarded tenure. He was elected to serve a third term on the Faculty Senate. In April 2005 Ricky was selected by his peers as the Convocation Speaker for the Student Honors Convocation, an honor bestowed upon a faculty member by fellow faculty members. Ricky was responsible for the very successful senior citizens swim classes at Columbia State and was the coordinator of the college's natatorium. He was twice named to Who's Who of American Teachers. Ricky served on the board of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters, on the steering committee for the MS Walk-a-Thon, and was a certified instructor for the American Red Cross. He was a very visible presence of Columbia State for many people for over 25 years. He was touched by everyone who came into contact with him. There can be no replacement for such a soul. Survivors in addition to his parents are his son, Joshua Lee Martin of Knoxville; one daughter, Joanna Lyn Martin of Columbia; two sisters, Mrs. Shirley (Willard) Johnson, Jr. of Columbia, Kathie Jean Martin of Franklin; and maternal grandmother, Mrs. Birdie Willoughby of Mt. Pleasant. Pallbearers will be David Heflin, Willard Johnson, Jr., Jeff Johnson, Adam Burleson, Gary Greksa, Louis Connor and Barry Gidcomb. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. B.I. Naddy, Dr. Jerry Battles, Roy Pritchard, Faculty and Staff of CSCC, elders of Mt. Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and senior water aerobic classes at CSCC.