After finishing his education, Mr. Martin joined Howe Baker Engineers in Tyler, Texas, where he met Jack Scott, another chemical engineer. Together they formed their own company, Marsco, in 1969. In 1980, they sold Marsco to the William Hudson Group Ltd. In 1981, Martin and several former Marsco employees formed PetroFac, Inc. PetroFac has developed into a truly international group designing, building and operating oil & gas plants throughout much of the world, and training the workforces that do this. The small company that Martin began in Texas now employs several thousand professional staff worldwide and has annual revenues approaching $1 billion (editors note: circa 2005). Martin retired from the company in 2004 and served on the Board of Directors through his retirement.

In 1994, Mr. Martin established the Martin Academic Enrichment Fund Endowment in the chemical engineering department to enhance the educational experiences of undergraduates through such activities as the WERC Design Competition. In 2005, Martin made a gift enabling the department to establish three endowed chairs, five endowed professorships, and five doctoral fellowships, in addition to increasing the endowment of the Martin Academic Enrichment Fund. In honor of Mr. Martin’s very generous gift, the department was named the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering.

In service to the University of Arkansas, Mr. Martin served on the College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council and the University Chancellor’s Advisor Board. He was inducted to the University of Arkansas College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2003 and was an inaugural inductee in the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers in 2005.

Mr. Martin passed away on February 19, 2011. He will be missed.

Read more about Ralph E. Martin:

Long-time College of Engineering Donor Endows Chemical Engineering Department, January 28, 2005

The University of Arkansas Remembers Ralph Martin, February 24, 2011