When Robert F. (Bob) Martin arrived at the University of Northern Iowa in 1981, he thought it would be temporary. He had been offered a one-year appointment in the Department of History after years of adjunct work in North Carolina. “I began to wonder if I would ever receive an opportunity to use my training in a more or less permanent position,” Martin recalled. “In 1981 UNI offered me a temporary position that fortunately became permanent and afforded me the opportunity to teach, write and engage with a dedicated academic community.”

That opportunity turned into nearly four decades of teaching, research and leadership. Martin, who retired in 2020 as professor emeritus and department head, became known for his scholarship on American religion and society and for his engaging teaching style. He especially loved UNI’s junior/senior history seminars for the way they encouraged close connection with students. He reflected on the importance of the U.S. history survey as well. “It was the only exposure some students got to the study of their nation’s past,” he said.

For Martin, some of the most meaningful classroom moments came not from lecture or debate but from the presence of Nick, his golden retriever guide dog. “His gentle and loving spirit added an element of warmth and was, I think, a comfort to many,” Martin said. “Students and colleagues often dropped by my office just to visit with Nick. He was far more popular than I ever hoped to be.”

Katherine (Kate) Martin made her own indelible mark on UNI through her decades of service at Rod Library. Beginning as Order and Bibliographic Control Librarian, she advanced to become Coordinator of Collection Management in 1988 and then head of the newly formed Collection Management Department in 1991. She later became Head of Collection Management and Special Services, overseeing key areas such as Youth, Documents and Maps, Art and Music, and University Archives. In 2011, she was appointed acting dean of Rod Library, where she helped guide the library during a period of transition and innovation. She served a second term as interim dean of the library from 2018 to 2020. She retired in 2020, the same year as Bob, and was granted emeritus status.

Together, Bob and Kate extended their passion for education into the community. They collaborated on The Lab School Story, a history of UNI’s Price Laboratory School, and have been active in historic preservation efforts across Cedar Falls. They have also extended their impact far beyond their careers through remarkable generosity. Over more than 30 years, they have supported 35 different funds across campus, including gifts to Rod Library, the Department of History and across the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Their philanthropy has also championed initiatives such as the Dementia Simulation House, as well as scholarships supporting students in history, social science teaching and gerontology.

In recognition of their lifelong commitment to UNI, education and public history, Bob and Kate Martin were honored with a 2025 President’s Philanthropy Award as part of the President’s Distinguished Awards Celebration. The honor celebrates their leadership, generosity and service to the university community.

Reflecting on UNI’s 150th anniversary, Martin emphasizes the importance of broad-based education. “I hope that the Liberal Arts Core will remain an essential part of UNI’s mission. Without this we have trained but not truly educated those to whom we are responsible.”

Even in retirement, Martin continues to serve as vice president of the Iowa Council of the United Blind, carrying forward the same spirit of service that defined his career. Asked what message he would share with his former students, he offered this: “Do your best to face life with quiet courage, genuine compassion, deep humility, realistic optimism, and the ability to laugh now and then at yourself and the world around you.”