Posted: 11/30/2011
Author:
By Robyn Claridy rclaridy@news-journal.com Longview News-Journal
An East Texas businessman will receive the Boy Scouts of America East Texas Area Council’s Distinguished Citizen Good Turn Award.
Ruben S. Martin of Longview, president and chief executive officer of Kilgore-based Martin Midstream Partners, was nominated for the award by community volunteers.
“The award is based on people in the community who are caring, giving people and strive to live their lives in accordance to the scout oath and law,” Scout Executive Michael Ballew said. “And Mr. Martin certainly showed us that. Those who receive this award are absolute pillars of East Texas, Ruben is certainly one of those.”
The award is considered the highest honor presented by the Boy Scouts of America, Ballew said.
Martin will receive the award Thursday during a luncheon at Pinecrest Country Club. The event is sold out.
Martin said Monday that he couldn’t take all of the credit.
“It’s quite an honor, but it’s more of an honor for all the people who have helped me through my life than it is for me, especially my wife Sue,” Martin said
“The thing is, it’s an award that belongs to everyone; it’s not anything I did, but what everyone has done.”
The company that evolved into Martin Midstream was started in Kilgore by Martin’s parents, R.S. and Margaret Martin, but has been driven by his strategic vision since the late 1970s.
The company spans 15 states, with assets totaling more than $1 billion and providing employment to more than 2,000 people.
Martin attributes his success to his parents being strong role models.
“My mother and father led by example in all walks of life,” Martin said.
Martin serves as president of Paula Martin Jones charities, a charitable organization he formed in honor of his sister who died in 1990.
The charity provides facilities for the Longview Child Development Center, Boys and Girls Club of Longview, Child Advocacy Center and the Presbyterian Children Homes and Services.
The charity also sponsors “East Texas Lightnin’,” the local delegation of the Special Olympics.
He has also has served on many boards across Texas, including the Good Shepherd Medical Center Board of Directors, Texas Association of Business, Sabine River Authority and Trinity School of Texas.
Martin is also the founder of of East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse and serves as president.
He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of science degree in industrial management.
He and his wife have been married for 38 years and have two daughters and two granddaughters.
They are members of the First Presbyterian Church in Longview, where Martin serves as an elder.
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