Martin Ervin McLean

Martin Ervin McLean was born into a farming family on July 18, 1936, in Oakalla, Texas. He always considered himself a farm boy. But when Martin, 90, passed away Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 in Marble Falls, this farm boy left behind a legacy as a community builder, a sometimes reluctant elected official, and most importantly- a family man.

After graduating from Lampasas High School in 1955, he continued to work on the family farm. But a prolonged drought forced the McLeans to give up farming and move to Marble Falls in the 1950s for better job prospects.

The move gave Martin the chance to meet a Johnson City girl named Gladys Birck. The two married in July 1960. They remained married for 66 years until Gladys’s death on July 15, 2026.

The couple moved to the Dallas area in 1962 for job reasons, but returned to Marble Falls 1965. They purchased HiWay Food & Ice on U.S. 281, renaming it McLean Food & Ice. The McLeans were content with owning a business and raising their family in Marble Falls.

The community, however, had other plans for Martin McLean.

Then-Mayor Clayton Nolan approached Martin to serve as the city’s municipal judge. Martin hesitated. He reluctantly agreed to take the position until Nolan could appoint someone else. Martin’s “replacement” didn’t show up for almost two decades. As well as handling the municipal court, Martin ran for Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace and won. He served as justice of the peace from 1977 to 1989.

In 1989, Martin still wasn’t convinced politics were for him. However, several people approached him about running for the Burnet County judge. Again, Martin wavered.

Martin, however, answered the call to serve. He ran and won.

Martin ended up serving as Burnet County judge from 1990 to 2002. During his tenure, Martin handled judicial and commissioners court administrative duties.

Throughout his years as a judge, Martin saw everyone who came before him as a person. He didn’t judge them based on income, community stature or title. He believed people deserved fair treatment.

Martin didn’t just do this from the bench. During all his endeavors, Martin strived to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

After “retiring” from public service in 2002, Martin swore he wouldn’t hold public office again. That lasted about a year.

In 2003, he accepted an appointment to the Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees, eventually running for and getting elected to the position. He spent eight years on the board, seven as the board president. During his last school board meeting as a trustee, the other members knowing Martin’s love for the Boston Red Sox baseball team presented him with a replica of the Sox’s famed Fenway Park.

Throughout his adult life, Martin saw needs within the community. Instead of waiting for someone else do something, Martin stepped up. He didn’t go it alone, and often collaborated with other people or organizations.

As a judge, Martin witnessed how mental health struggles often left people in trouble with the law. In 1999, Martin joined the Bluebonnet Trails Community Services board, an organization dedicated to helping Burnet County and five other Central Texas counties with mental health issues. He served on the board for 18 years.

Martin and Gladys also took up the cause of hunger. In 1987, the couple joined others in getting The Helping Center of Marble Falls established. The duo volunteered with the food pantry for more than three decades.

Along with those projects, Martin was a big advocate for area youth. He served on the Boys and Girls Club of the Highland Lakes board. He helped establish the Little Dribblers/Young Guns basketball program to help get kids involved in the sport. He was a part of the Optimist Club when the organization built the youth baseball and softball fields.

As an avid Marble Falls Mustangs fan, Martin attended countless games over the years.

For his volunteering and work, Martin earned a number of awards and accolades including garnering the first ever Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Award. A complete list of his volunteering work and honors would take pages.

As much as Martin enjoyed serving the community, he loved being a family man.

No matter what else they were doing as far as jobs, elected positions or volunteer work, Gladys and Martin always made sure family and raising their three children - Kevin, Brenda and Scott - came first. Even when the kids grew into adults and struck out in their own lives, Gladys and Martin continued showing up for and supporting them.

But Martin especially enjoyed following his grandchildren’s endeavors. He would try to make every activity he could that his grandchildren - Jason and Logan Belk and Korbin McLean - participated in. Logan and Jason grew up in Marble Falls and pursued a number of extracurricular activities. And when they were playing or performing, you can bet Martin and Gladys were in the stands or in the audience.

When Korbin attended high school for several years in Cross Plains, Martin and Gladys made the drive as often as they could to see him play baseball, football and basketball.

One of Martin’s favorite endeavors was bragging to people about his grandchildren and their accomplishments. He loved sharing stories about Logan’s high jump ability, Jason’s musicianship and Korbin’s gridiron prowess, as well as their other activities. He was so proud of his grandkids.

And when the great grandchildren came along, it was another generation to brag about. And maybe spoil a bit.

For all his work in the community, Martin didn’t do any of it for the honors. While he might have been a sometimes reluctant public official, the humble Oakalla farm boy lived a life of service to the community and its people. He didn’t need or want the spotlight.

Martin just wanted people to know that they mattered.

McLean is preceded in death by his wife Gladys Birck McLean, parents Clarence and Evelyn McLean and his brother Jerry. He is survived by his children Kevin McLean, Brenda (Virgil) Belk, and Scott (Leigh) McLean; his grandchildren Jason (Liz) Belk, Logan (Alexis) Belk, and Korbin (Taylor) McLean; his great-grandchildren Cooper, Peyton, Berkeley, Memphis, Delilah, and Sorren; and his brother Edwin (Judy) McLean. Funeral Services are in care of Clements Wilcox Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request that donations be made in Martin's honor to the Helping Center of Marble Falls.