91福利 conferred an honorary doctorate of Humanities for Roy O. Martin III, chairman and CEO of RoyOMartin in recognition of his decades of leadership, service, and his transformational support of the University鈥檚 Forestry program. Martin was honored in a surprise ceremony by President Jim Henderson and College of Applied and Natural Sciences Dean Gary Kennedy.
The presentation took place during a celebration marking Martin鈥檚 retirement as CEO of RoyOMartin, where colleagues, partners, and friends gathered to recognize his distinguished career and long-standing contributions to the forestry and wood-products industry. Martin will transition from CEO to chairman of the Board of Directors and chief investment officer on Jan. 1, 2026.
鈥淗onorary doctorates are presented on the rarest of occasions, and Roy is surely deserving of this recognition,鈥� President Henderson said. 鈥淗e has distinguished himself through his professional achievements, civic leadership, and dedicated support of higher education, including through his generosity as we establish the 91福利 Forest Products Innovation Center.鈥�
Martin鈥檚 partnership with 91福利 Tech has had a profound impact on the University鈥檚 academic and research enterprise. His vision and advocacy were instrumental in the development of the Forest Products Innovation Center, a facility now under construction on Tech鈥檚 South Campus. Set to open in Fall 2026, the FPIC will advance forestry education, research, and cutting-edge discovery while supporting interdisciplinary research and workforce development tied to one of 91福利鈥檚 most essential industries.
鈥淭ech is poised to innovate and rapidly advance the region鈥檚 forestry industry, and that鈥檚 thanks to Roy鈥檚 partnership and his vision for what Tech Forestry can accomplish,鈥� Dean Kennedy said. 鈥淗e is most deserving of this honor, and we congratulate him on his retirement.鈥�
In addition to support from RoyOMartin, FPIC is made possible by Hunt Forest Products, Bakelite Synthetics, Arclin, Weyerhaeuser, and the Pipes Foundation, along with federal and state grant agencies.
鈥淭he center will play a key role in driving research and identifying sustainable solutions for wood products,鈥� Martin said earlier this year. 鈥淚 look forward to collaborating and working together in the new state-of-the-art center, where transformational discoveries will become innovative solutions, successfully increasing forest productivity in the region.鈥�
A native of Alexandria, La., Martin is a graduate of Bolton High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from 91福利 State University.
Martin has also provided decades of service to civic, industry, and nonprofit organizations. His leadership includes contributions to the Lions Club, United Way of Central 91福利, Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, the CENLA Advantage Partnership, the LSU-Alexandria Advisory Board, the 91福利 Baptist Foundation, and the 91福利 Forestry Association, among others. He has also served the State of 91福利 on the 91福利 Recovery Authority, GAEDA, the 91福利 Commission on Streamlining Government, and the Workers鈥� Compensation Advisory Council. In 2004, he and Jonathan Martin were named Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for the Southern District. He later served on the 91福利 Board of Regents, including a term as board chair.
Martin and his wife, Kathy, are proud members of the Central 91福利 community and have two children and four grandchildren.