ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative David O. Martin.
Whereas, Representative David “Dave” O. Martin was born to Fin and Marion Martin on March 7, 1931, in Appleton, Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Representative Martin graduated from Neenah High School, attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in forestry; and
Whereas, Representative Martin then served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, leading a unit in rebuilding bridges throughout war-torn Germany, and later worked as a forester for the Kimberly Clark Corporation; and
Whereas, Representative Martin was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1960 and went on to serve for five consecutive terms; and
Whereas, Representative Martin served as Assistant Majority Leader for the 1967–68 legislative session; and
Whereas, Representative Martin served on several legislative committees during his tenure in the assembly, including the Joint Committee on Finance, the Building Commission, and the Joint Legislative Council; and
Whereas, Representative Martin was known for his ability to work in a bipartisan manner, including in his roles in the enactment of the Wisconsin Wild Rivers law and the establishment of a statewide vocational and technical education system; and
Whereas, Representative Martin collaborated with both Governor Gaylord Nelson and Governor Warren Knowles on legislation and initiatives that sought to establish Wisconsin as a national leader in environmental protection and outdoor recreation; and
Whereas, Representative Martin was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in the 1970 gubernatorial election; and
Whereas, following his career in the state legislature, Representative Martin returned to work for the Kimberly Clark Corporation as their manager for government relations for nearly three decades; and
Whereas, Representative Martin later served as the associate vice president for business and university relations for the University of Wisconsin System until his retirement in 1993; and
Whereas, Representative Martin, along with his wife Joan Martin, also owned the Marquette Café and Bar in Marquette, Iowa; and
Whereas, Representative Martin remained active in political advocacy and public service even after his tenure in the state legislature, serving in leadership capacities for Common Cause Wisconsin, the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, and the Three Eagles Foundation; and
Whereas, Representative Martin was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; and
Whereas, Representative Martin passed away on January 22, 2025, at the age of 93; and
Whereas, Representative Martin is missed by his family, friends, and former colleagues; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin State Legislature join in honoring the life and public service of Representative David O. Martin and extend their condolences to his family and friends.
Senator Mary Felzkowski
President of the Senate
Representative Robin J. Vos
Speaker of the Assembly
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
