Jack was a brigadier general in the Texas Air National Guard, and held a top security defense rating.
Following graduation from Burkett High School in 1937, he attended John Tarleton Agricultural College in Stephenville, Texas, on a basketball scholarship, participated in the ROTC program and majored in petroleum engineering.
After discharge from Ft. Sam Houston in 1946, with numerous scholarship offers, Martin chose Hardin-Simmons Baptist University, Abilene, Texas.
After moving to Beaumont, the State of Texas appointed him the commander to organize the mid-country Air National Guard Squadron, Jefferson County Airport, Nederland, which became known for its efficiency and superb performances.
He is listed on the Tarleton State College Wall of Honor Memorial Monument as a General Officer who served with extraordinary distinction in positions of great responsibility and as a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal.
The highlight of Jack Martin's career would be his 1968–1969 squad that earned a #1 national ranking in the Associated Press college division poll.
A week later, they quieted a stunned crowd in College Station's G. Rollie White Coliseum by strumming Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M, 98–87.
"Since we had gone 8–17 the previous season, what that team did to start that year has to be one of the greatest surprises ever in Lamar basketball, at least up until that point," said Joe Lee Smith, then LU's director of sports information.
The overflow throng in McDonald Gym and those viewing the game by closed-circuit television in a nearby dining hall erupted into bedlam when forward Jim Nicholson stole the ball and went in for a layup seconds after the overtime tip-off.
Then, spindly guard Earl Dow popped in a corner jumper to give the Cards a four-point lead, and they controlled the rest of overtime, winning 71–65.
When Japan surrendered unconditionally, ending the war in the South Pacific, large numbers of service men were left with little to do except wait for their return to the States.
After WWII, Jack continued serving his country by immediately joining the US Army National Guard in Abilene, Texas.
In June, 1956, at the request of the Texas Governor, Martin and 20 guardsmen started the 273rd GEEIA (Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency) Communications Texas Air National Guard Squadron where he served as Commander and in 1957 he obtained his BI/Top Secret Security Clearance designation and in 1969 he attended the National War College Defense Strategy Seminar and later the Command and General Staff School in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Under his leadership, the squadron was known worldwide for the capabilities, initiative and professionalism in performance of both its state and federal missions including NATO Communications installations in Europe.
of Defense in numerous foreign countries, Liaison for the Air Force Academy, and Civil Service Disaster Relief Operations Coordinator in Southeast Texas.