The Martin family announces the passing of Richard Ray Martin who died peacefully on September 30, 2022 at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born on February 18, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri. There will be a memorial held at 2 PM on October 6, 2022 at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa. It will be followed by a reception.

Dr. Richard "Dick" Martin received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tulsa in 1965. He continued at TU and completed an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He served as a pilot during the Vietnam War flying cargo planes into the combat zone. He then worked at the John Zink Company where he became vice president of the burner group. Later he became a founding employee of Callidus Technologies and went on to teach at Oral Roberts University.

He received numerous patents and his inventions removed countless tons of pollution from the air we breathe around the world. People who have never met him have greener forests, more comfortable lives, and cleaner skies because of his skill and insight. His hard work resulted in not only the growth of several businesses but also employment for hundreds if not thousands of people so that they too could take care of their families.

Perhaps more important than his technical and business accomplishments was the fact that Dick was always a teacher who freely and kindly shared his knowledge. Through this sharing he enabled others to grow, prosper, and to improve the world for an ever-broadening number of people.

He was an avid runner, running many miles daily for decades. Here too, he made numerous friends and encouraged others in their endeavors. He attended Boston Avenue United Methodist Church and studied his faith with the same rigor that he applied to other areas of his life.

We will never forget that Dick was a husband and best friend for 53 years. He was our father who built pine-wood derby cars, taught us to run, and worked with us on our first cars.  He was our grandfather who traded jokes and tickle-hugs. We both mourn his passing and are thankful that we could share our short time on this earth with him.