John Martinez, Ph.D.
Dr. John Martinez grew up on a farm in west Texas in the 1950s. Working alongside his many siblings - five sisters and five brothers – he spent numerous hours in the cotton fields picking cotton and hoeing weeds. He learned to handle farm machinery early, driving a tractor at the ripe age of seven. His dedication to pursuing an academic career stems mainly from his desire to escape the rigors of farm life. He maintains that he has never worked a day in his life since leaving the farm.
Dr. Martinez began his college career as a mathematics major; however, the pull of social issues was too much for him to resist. Economics provided the perfect blend – a subject with a highly mathematical orientation and a social science perspective. He completed his undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Texas (Austin) and his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oklahoma (Norman). Since 1970, he has been continuously employed at the college level, where he has taught various economics and business-related courses.
Since 1997, he has been a full professor in the Dillard College of Business Administration at Midwestern State University (MSU), where he has taught economics and statistics courses. In 2006, MSU honored his teaching excellence and service to the university. In 2012, he was named Hardin Professor, the highest honor bestowed upon a university faculty member each year.
At MSU, he served for 15 years as the full-time Director of the Bureau of Business and Government Research (BBGR). He conducted numerous impact studies that have had critical applications for local economic development. In addition to writing for refereed journals, he has contributed numerous op-ed pieces on various local and national economic issues for the Times Record News (TRN) of Wichita Falls. Local media consult with Martinez as an expert on local economic news, and he is a frequent speaker at community events.
Besides his love for academia, he treasures spending time with family, especially his wife Anna and son Michael. He is also a devoted Texas Rangers baseball fan.
View Dr. Martinez's profile for a full list of contact information, course syllabi, and recent publications.