Martin, John Butlin, 1909-

Republican state senator, 1948-1950, from Kent County, Michigan, state auditor general, 1950-1954, unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate nomination in 1952, and member of the Republican National Committee.

John B. Martin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 3, 1909. He was educated at Dartmouth (A.B., 1931), Oxford (Litt. B., 1933), and the University of Michigan (J.D., 1936). After being admitted to the District of Columbia bar in 1936, Martin became legal secretary to the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. From 1938 to 1941, he practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio and served as chief of the Ohio Division of Securities. During World War II, he helped to organize and later served as head of the National Office of Civilian Defense. He subsequently was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve, serving from 1944 to 1946. Upon his discharge, he began to practice law in Grand Rapids.

Martin soon became active in Republican politics and public policy organizations. He served as state senator 1948-1950, then was elected state auditor general, serving two terms, 1950-1954. Also active in national party politics, Martin served several terms as Michigan committeeman on the Republican National Committee in the late 1950s and early 1960s

From 1957 to 1960, Martin chaired the Michigan Legislative Advisory Council on Problems of Aging. This organization later became the Michigan Commission on Aging with Martin serving first as vice-chair, then chair. Martin was also chairman of the Michigan Crime and Delinquency Council, 1960-1965, and was a delegate to Michigan's Constitutional Convention, 1961-1962, where he chaired the Committee on the Executive Branch. A life-long Republican, Martin served several terms.