Frank L. Martin

• Professor, 1908-1941
• Dean, 1935-1941

Founding Dean Walter Williams may have been the outward face of the Missouri School of Journalism, but many consider Frank Lee Martin to be the man who kept it running.

Frank L. Martin Photo: University Archives, C:11/13/3.

Martin came to the School of Journalism in 1909, in the second semester of its inaugural year. Williams chose Martin to replace Silas Bent, one of the School's two founding professors, who left at the semester break to join the staff of Chicago's American newspaper.

Frank L. Martin (left) with two of the School's guests, circa 1920. Photo: University Archives, C:11/13/3.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Martin, circa 1930s. Photo: University Archives, C:11/13/3.

Born in York County, Neb., Martin was a 1902 graduate of the University of Nebraska. He immediately went to work for The Kansas City Star, first as a reporter and then as assistant telegraph editor and assistant city editor. Williams first met Martin in 1905, when Williams was struck with the typhoid fever epidemic that spread throughout central Missouri. Martin, then covering the epidemic for The Star, interviewed Williams for his story, and the two stayed in touch.

Martin was an associate editor and editorial writer for The Star in 1908 when Williams recruited him for a faculty position at the world's first school of journalism. He was named an assistant professor of theory and practice of journalism in February 1909, beginning his 32-year career at the Missouri School of Journalism. Having been one of the School's first and longest-serving professors, Martin taught nearly all of the introductory news and reporting courses offered throughout the years. Additionally, he taught news desk methods, copy reading and special correspondence, a summer course that took students to reporting assignments throughout the Midwest, South and even Mexico.

Nicknamed "Hon" for his insistence that politicians and other dignitaries be titled in print as "Mr." instead of the traditional "Honorable," Martin was an expert in the running of the Columbia Missourian newsroom. Known as a patient teacher, Martin would "listen patiently to a student, then say something like, 'Why don't you just go ahead and develop the story the way you told it to me?'" said Dale Wilson, a 1912 graduate and student of Martin's.

While Williams did the majority of the traveling, he did send Martin to work as news editor of the Japan Advertiser in Tokyo during the 1915-1916 academic year. Later, Martin traveled to Yenching University in China as a visiting professor and helped to establish a partnership with the university.

When Williams was chosen to the University of Missouri presidency in 1930, Martin was named associate dean and handled the day-to-day duties of the dean's office. He was officially named dean upon Williams' death in the summer of 1935. Martin would serve six years as dean before dying of a stroke in 1941. The Frank L. Martin Memorial Library at the School was dedicated in his honor in 1942.