Billie Martin Honored With Keeter Alumni Service Award From Hardin-Simmons University

ABILENE, TX (10/26/2011)(readMedia)-- Billie Martin of Anson, Texas, has been awarded the Keeter Alumni Service Award by Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Martin was given this honor at the school's homecoming, October 21 - 23, 2011.

Billie (Shirley) Martin associate professor emeritus of physical education and Hardin-Simmons University have a relationship that stretches back to 1944 when she moved to campus from Anson, Texas, to begin her collegiate studies.

Billie graduated from HSU in 1948 with a BA in physical education. Upon graduation, she quickly secured the first job of her long career, teaching physical education at Lamesa High School, Lamesa, Texas, staying there until 1952.

When Dr. Otho Polk, chairman of the physical education department called and offered her a job, she immediately accepted and returned to HSU as a faculty member and to work on her master's degree.

Martin instructed a myriad of Hardin-Simmons students from 1952 until her retirement in 1993. She was head of the Physical Education and Recreation Department at HSU, and upon retirement she had the distinction of the faculty member who had been at the institution for the longest time.

During that time, in addition to earning her MEd in Physical Education in 1954, she coached women's volleyball and tennis and directed women's intramurals. She also served as president of the District 7 Physical Education Division in 1955.

Billie continued her education, doing post graduate studies during the summers at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA; the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO; Texas Women's University, Denton, TX; the George Peabody College, Nashville, TN; University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; and Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

As an HSU associate professor, she had the opportunity to spend the 1963-64 school year as an instructor in elementary physical education at the American School in Tokyo, Japan.

Upon her return to HSU, she became sponsor of the International Club and has stayed in touch with many of those students through the years. For 19 years, the young women of Phi Phi Phi social club were privileged to have her as their supportive and fun-loving sponsor. She was also a sponsor of the Cowgirls, a rope-twirling spirit organization that marched with the Cowboy Band.

Billie always found both the time and the energy to volunteer her service to host and oversee the State Volleyball Tournament, which was hosted by HSU, and she helped host and oversee the annual Invitational High School Basketball Tournaments held at HSU.

In 1978, she was the first woman to be elected president of the HSU faculty. Billie served as president of HSU Round Table service organization, was president of University Women; and after her retirement, she served with her late husband as co-president of the HSU Former Faculty, Staff, and Administration Fellowship.

Among her many professional honors is the prestigious State Honor Award in 1977 for meritorious service presented by the Texas State Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. In 1981, she was chosen to be part of a study tour of China, making a comparative study of physical education in China and North America.

In 1993, Martin was named HSU Faculty Member of the Year and in 1998 she received the Former Faculty Member of the Year Award from the HSU Fellowship. She is currently a member of the School of Music Foundation; a member of the John G. Hardin Society; and established a School of Music scholarship, the Dr. J.G. and Billie Martin Endowed Scholarship.

Born in Anson, TX, she married Dr. J.G. Martin, head of the Department of Music Education and Church Music in the HSU School of Music on November 20, 1970. J.G was an avid performer in many local stage productions. Billie and J.G. even had parts together in a Warner Brothers movie filmed near Anson. Having attained the status of professor emeritus, J.G. Martin died September 2008.

Billie and J.G. attended University Baptist Church where Billie has continued to be an active member for 62 years, serving as ladies Bible school teacher for a majority of that time.

About Hardin-Simmons:

HSU has an enrollment of approximately 2,300 undergrad and graduate students from 29 states and 19 countries. HSU has a 13:1 student faculty ratio with a campus that sits on 209 acres. Seventy-nine percent of HSU's faculty hold the highest degree in their field.

The university is named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best universities in the western region of the United States and is listed by The Princeton Review as a Top Ten Best in the West University. It is a member of the Colleges of Distinction, and the Chronicle of Higher Education named it to their honor roll as a "Great College to Work For."

Seven undergraduate degrees encompass 70 major fields including: athletic training, criminal justice, social work, counseling, psychology, molecular biology, biochemistry, environmental science, religion, music, art, teaching,history, communications, English, and sociology.

Ten graduate degrees include the Doctor of Ministry and the Doctor of Physical Therapy.

International study programs include England, Austria, Hong Kong, Spain, and Australia.

Hardin-Simmons University, founded in 1891, is a private Christian institution, and has been affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptists) since 1941.