Martha Ann Boyd

Martha Ann Boyd, (age 97) long-time Austin resident, died June 25, 2025. Martha was born in Dallas, Texas on January 10, 1928. The daughter of Arthur H. and Mary Lee Robertson Boyd, Martha grew up in Terrell, Texas where she was valedictorian of her high school class when she graduated in 1945. She enrolled at the University of Chicago for the summer of 1945 and then at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1949 with a BS in Chemistry with Honors. She was named an Outstanding Student and was President of Mortar Board. While in college she was a member of Orange Jackets, Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society), and Iota Sigma Pi (chemical honor society), and was President of Delta Gamma sorority.

After college, Martha moved to Richland, Washington where she was employed with General Electric at Hanford Works from 1950-1953. She returned to Austin in 1955 and was employed by stock brokers Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Beane; Schneider, Bernet & Hickman; and Rauscher-Pierce .

In 1961, Martha joined the UT Austin staff in the Office of Government Sponsored Research and the News and Information Service. As the interface between the media, the public and the university, the University News and Information Service was the search engine for any information regarding the University of Texas before there were search engines as we know them today. Among her many responsibilities at the university, Martha developed and co-produced two award-winning radio series – “200 Years” and “The Next 200 Years” – featuring UT Austin administrators and faculty experts. In these series, which were distributed nationally by the NPR affiliate KUT, panelists discussed important issues facing the nation at its bicentennial in 1976, and in the following years.

In 1993, following retirement, Martha maintained her ties to UT Austin, serving as editor of the newsletter of the Retired Faculty/Staff Association at UT Austin, as well as Historian and Historian Emeritus of the organization . She was secretary for many years of the board of the Old Farm Community POA on Lake Travis and the lakeside park there is named in her honor.

As a teenager and young adult during WWII, Martha’s family was a host family for the pilots who trained at the No. 1 British Flying Training School that was established in Terrell, TX, just east of Dallas. During this period, she developed friendships that lasted a lifetime, including with Thomas Round, who became a leading tenor in Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas in England after the war. Martha loved to travel, loved music, and was a brilliant, lifelong learner who participated for many years in SAGE. She was especially passionate about music and supported and volunteered in the Austin Lyric Opera Guild and attended Austin Opera productions as well as Austin Symphony concerts. She was a member of the choir at the University United Methodist Church for six decades, where she also served on various lay committees. Martha was a tireless supporter of UT Austin and UT sports, especially Women’s Basketball. She was also president of the Austin Shakespeare Club.

In 1981 Martha’s inner strength and resiliency were tested when her home was destroyed by the historic Memorial Day flooding along Shoal Creek.

Pre-deceased by her parents and sister, Betty Boyd Morgan, and brother-in law, L.O. (Tom) Morgan, Martha is survived by nephew Joe Morgan, his children Tracy and Matt Davis and their children Blythe and Gray of Austin; Rob and Lavon Morgan and children, Andy and Julie of Austin; nephew Boyd Morgan and wife Sherry of Austin, and their children—Libby and Aditya Beri and children, Anika and Rohan of Bryn Mawr, PA; and Sharon Morgan of Austin; nephew Robert Morgan and wife Kara Kern of Conroe, TX; niece Mary Kay Morgan Muir and her children, Alissa Muir of OR, and David Muir and his fiancée Laurel Friedlander of Pocatello, ID; niece Patricia Conradt of Austin; and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM Saturday, August 23rd at University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe St., Austin. Arrangements by Weed Corley Fish. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the music fund at the University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78705; the Scholarship Fund of the UT Retired Faculty/Staff (contact Carol Barrett at Texas Exes for information of how and where to send); Austin Lyric Opera; or to the organization of your choice.