John Willard Martin, Former Coach Dies

[Bill Burchfield '59]

Willard Martin age 91 born February 5, 1917 passed away in the early morning of September 4, 2008. Martin suffered a stroke recently. He had been confined to a
wheelchair for several years, because of a back problem He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In World War ll. Martin was a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Masters Degree in Education. He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years Verne Tate Martin; daughter: Molly Martin.

Martin, who coached basketball at the Downtown YMCA during the 1930s-40s before becoming an assistant coach to Buford Bible at Knoxville High. He coached Knoxville High teams from 1943-1946 while Bible served in the U.S. military during World War ll.
He became basketball coach at Rule in 1947 and stayed until the mid-1950s when he turned his career to the classroom. He taught until 1988.

The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. Sunday at Rose Mortuary Broadway Chapel. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at National Veterans Cemetery.