Leroy B. Martin, Jr.
Born in Elkin, NC, June 6, 1926, I attended public schools in Raleigh where, at Broughton High School, I enjoyed a succession of excellent teachers of mathematics. I was an active participant in choral programs, a member of the National Honor Society, and was named to the Greensboro Daily News All State Football Team in 1943. In the Spring of 1944, Herman Hickman, line coach at the U. S. Military Academy, encouraged me to apply for West Point. I enlisted in the Army in 1944 and after a year of infantry training, was assigned as a plebe at the United States Military Academy and played on the national championship Army Team of 1945 (this was the team with Mr. Inside, "Doc' Blanchard, and Mr. Outside, Glenn Davis, both of whom were Heisman Trophy winners). Resigning from the Academy after a year, I spent the remainder of my undergraduate years at Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, N.C., majoring in mathematics.
In deciding what to do with a degree in mathematics from a small liberal arts college in those 'pre-sputnik' times, I considered four options: pursue actuarial science studies in Michigan, enroll at Duke for a career in tax law, begin studies in the new Institute of Statistics just begun under Gertrude Cox (a suggestion by Dr. Frank Graham), or begin graduate work in the Mathematics Department at NC State College as suggested in a meeting with Col. J. R. Harrelson, Chancellor and former head of the math department. In 1949 Dr. H. A Fisher, head of the department, hired me as a Teaching Fellow, teaching half-time and working toward a masters degree. My first supervisor was Dr. H. M. Nahikian, my advisor was Dr. J. M. Clarkson. I was thrilled by courses in differential equations by Dr. Carey Mumford, linear algebra with Dr. Nahikian, complex variables with Dr. R. C. Bullock, and operational mathematics with Dr. John W. Cell. My 'minor' was in nuclear physics, leading me to take courses from such great professors as Dr. Arthur Waltner, Dr. Raymond Murray, and Dr. A. C. Menius. My graduate committee consisted of Drs. Nahikian, Murray, and Clarkson who approved the thesis, under Dr. Clarkson on development of elementary transcendental functions entirely from their representation as infinite series. I received my masters degree in 1952 at the same time as Charles Anderson and Jason Sox.
My experiences at two great schools and the professional relationships with outstanding teachers, especially Howard Petrea, convinced me that I wanted a career of teaching mathematics in a college setting, and that earning a doctorate was important for that goal. That Fall I was admitted to Harvard University and began studies in applied mathematics in the School of Engineering Sciences and Applied Physics in the Division of Arts and Sciences. I was awarded an MS degree after one year. Harvard's requirement for the doctorate entailed demonstrated proficiency in four fields. I met those requirements with course work in 'hydro- and aero-dynamics' (Drs. Carrier and von Mises), course work in 'elasticity and plasticity' (Dr. Emmons), an oral examination in 'applied mathematics', and a dissertation on 'computing machinery' under my advisor, Dr. Howard Aiken, Director of the Computation Center and foremost pioneer in the development of computers. The dissertation was approved in 1955 and I ultimately received the PhD. in January 1958.
In 1955, The International Business Machines Corporation was beginning to expand from magnetic relay, punched card, tabulating machinery to electronic computers (IBM along with Dr. Aiken had built the Mark I located at Harvard). On a recruiting visit to Harvard, they hired me to begin training in the Boston IBM office as one of their new Applied Science Representatives. While there I met Charlotte Meyer and after working in New York City for two years, we were married in 1961.
During those years, when I flew home to visit, I sometimes ran into Dr. 'Buck' Menius at the airport. My former physics professor had become Dean of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics and he suggested that I return to the campus. Often I stopped in to see my former colleagues in the math department who were always warmly welcoming. Thus, in 1961 I moved with my new bride to Raleigh to embark on a full-time career as an Assistant Professor in the Math Department at a nine month salary of $7,500 which was one half of my IBM earnings. In 1965 I was promoted to Associate Professor with permanent tenure at a salary of $11,100.
In 1967 the administration became alarmed at the proliferation of computing devices on campus and Provost Harry Kelly hired me over the summer to prepare a "Report of Computing Facilities and Their Applications at NCSU Through August 1967". The next summer I again worked for the Provost preparing "A Study of the Committees and Operating Policies of University Government at NCSU". In August,1968, I was appointed Director of the Computing Center which also included responsibility for the computer operations of the National Register Records Center and the Dairy Records Processing Center, about 90 full time employees. Simultaneously, I was promoted to Professor of Computer Science to help in establishment of that new Department under Dr. Paul Lewis. The computing center was just completing its communications network with the large computing facility in the Research Triangle Park to be shared with UNCCH and Duke known as TUCC. It was also the duty of the Director of the Computing Center to coordinate NCSU use of that resource.
The office of Student affairs was accelerating its use of the facilities for student records, registration, etc. At this point the Office of Business Affairs became an awakened 'sleeping giant' and called upon establishment of a new activity for Administrative Data Processing and I organized that effort. The major systems programmer in the Computing Center was ready for this kind of responsibility, and we were fortunate that Leo Buckmaster, the Texan, was willing to lead this new effort and developed Administrative Computing Services. At this time my title was changed to Assistant Provost for University Computing and I began to realize that my major job was to convince the students, the faculty, and the administration that they were all equally deprived of computing resources. In the late 70's we upgraded our capability from punched card input to electronic terminals and the new concern was campus wide communications facilities. Charlie Braswell, Director of Physical Plant, and I agreed that no renovation or new building should take place without appropriate raceways and connections for communications.
Throughout my administrative career, I taught one mathematics course each Spring until in 1983 I rose to Professor of Mathematics and resumed full time teaching on a nine months basis. After retirement in 1996, I became Professor Emeritus of Mathematics and have been teaching one class each semester until 2003.
Over the years my activities included serving on the committee studying changes in MA 112 and introduction of a course in finite mathematics, course design and selection of a text for differential equations, provided general leadership in course design and text selection for numerical analysis courses, participated in the design and formation of the Computer Science curriculum and department, Executive Committee of the Operations Research Technical Committee, Co-Chair Committee to Reinforce Academic Integrity, Teaching Improvement Committee (both Math. Dept. and University), Task Force for First Year College, Founding Coordinator of Faculty Fellows for FYC, Chairman of Campus YMCA committee, Vice Chairman Friends of the Library, Sec-Treas. Alumni Association Board, Faculty Senate Chairman 1969-70, member of the Commission on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities 1998. Most recently I have become Vice President of the over 50, 'Forever', reunion club.
Other activities include golf, tennis, travel, Kiwanis, singing in the Raleigh Oratorio Society, and summering in Northfield, Massachusetts. Charlotte and I have three sons, all Eagle Scouts. LeRoy, III, and Eric received doctorates from NCSU and Christopher an MBA from Georgia State.
(April, 2003)