Honorable Gene R. Martin

The Honorable Gene R. Martin, age 97, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 19, 2023. He was reunited with his beloved wife June, who died January 16, 2007, with whom he enjoyed 56 wonderful years.

Visitation will be on January 2, 2024, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am at the Hickman Mills Community Christian Church, 5809 East Red Bridge Road, Kansas City, Missouri. A Memorial Service will be held immediately following at 11 am at the Church. A reception and celebration of his life will take place that same afternoon at 1:00 pm at the Mount Moriah Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. A private Entombment Service for family members will follow at Mount Moriah.

Judge Martin was born on Jul 18, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri to Winona and Robert Frank Martin, and was a lifelong resident in Kansas City. His father worked at the U.S. Postal System and his grandfather was a Methodist Church minister. His mother was a Methodist Church school teacher.

Gene’s mother died from TB when he was only 11. He had two younger brothers at the time – Lee who was 9, and Herbert who was 7. Despite the loss of their mother and growing up during the Great Depression, the brothers all eventually graduated from college, married, and had families. Lee went on to become the District Safety Manager for the U.S. Postal Service in the KC area and Herbert became the Vice President and Controller of Massman Construction Co.

After graduating from Paseo High School at the age of 16 in 1943, Gene went to work at the North American Aviation Plant in Kansas City, Kansas building B25 bombers. When his age permitted, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserves and served as an Aviation Cadet.

After the war he attended the University of Kansas City (now UMKC) where he met his future wife and love of his life, W. June Wells, whom he married in 1950. They had two sons, David, born in 1953, and Kevin, born in 1955. Family activities included boating, and water and snow skiing. Gene also obtained his private pilot’s license, and the family went on several plane excursions.

In May 1953 he graduated “With Distinction” from the University of Kansas City Law School where he had served on the Board of Editors of the Law Review. While attending law school, he was also Courtroom Clerk in the U.S. District Court for Judge Richard Duncan. He was admitted to the Missouri Bar that September and began the practice of law with Wilbur B. Ennis, which later evolved to become the law firm of Ennis, Browne, Martin and Tapp. Gene handled a broad range of legal matters with emphasis on courtroom litigation. He was also admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.

He was one of the original incorporators of the UMKC Law Foundation in 1959. He also served as a board member of the School of Law Alumni Association and as Secretary/Treasurer from 1997-1998. He was elected Secretary of the Kansas City Bar Association in 1974-1975.

In December of 1976, Gene was appointed Judge of Division 10 of the Jackson County Circuit Court by Missouri Governor Christopher Bond. As judge, he served every assignment: Civil, Criminal, Domestic and Juvenile. He was the Presiding Judge of the court from 1989-1990. As a judge his main consideration was fairness to all who appeared before him. His demeanor, honesty, and respect for his fellowman served him well. Judge Martin’s commitment to himself, and the community, when he took the bench was to serve God and his fellowman to the best of his ability.

In 1991 he received the Presidential Award of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and in 1992 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the UMKC Law Foundation. After nearly 20 years on the bench, Judge Martin retired from the active docket in 1996, but continued to serve as a Senior Judge at the Circuit Court and the Missouri Court of Appeals. He also served as an arbitrator, mediator, and condemnation commissioner.

Gene and June moved to the Red Bridge Estates area in 1957 and were active in the nearby Hickman Mills Community Christian Church. Gene served the church in numerous capacities including Elder and Chairman of the Board. He served on the Research Mental Health Board (now ReDiscover) the Board of Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). They enjoyed the theater and travel and were faithful supporters of The Lyric Opera and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. He donated blood on a regular basis and was recipient of the 5-gallon Blood Donor Celebration Milestone

In 2016 Gene moved to the Kingswood Senior Living Community. He was very active there and also served as a resident representative for several years. He was on the Kingswood Foundation Board and helped rewrite the bylaws to be compliant with changes in Missouri law.

Judge Martin is survived by his two sons David and Kevin (wife Carolyn) as well as four granddaughters; Rachel, Sarah, Emily and Leslie. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family requests no flowers but suggests donations to the Judge Gene R. Martin Scholarship Endowment at the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law Foundation, 1-200 Law School, 500 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, or online donations to Starfish Connection at starfishconnection.org.