Ernest Martin is an Oklahoman, born and educated in Hugo. He will celebrate his 80th birthday on April 13, 2001. Ernest has a lengthy heritage in pharmacy as his grandfather and father were both registered pharmacists. After honoring his country by serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II and earning the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in 1949, Ernest passed the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy examination on February 9, 1950, and practiced pharmacy for 50 years before retiring and becoming a Senior Inactive. He received the Gold Certificate for 50 years of active practice as a pharmacist and, in 1976, the Bowl of Hygeia Award.

Ernest was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1964 and served in that office for 18 years. During 16 of those years, he was Chairman of the Senate Public and Mental Health Committee. During his tenure in the Chair position, Ernest served as an advocate of the pharmacy, aiding the development of legislation beneficial to the profession as well as to the public. He also served on the Medical Advisory Committee representing the Senate in the Oklahoma State Welfare Department and later became a lay member of the committee. Ernest was also elected by his peers in the Senate to serve as Majority Leader. He did not file for reelection after his last term and was later appointed by Governor George Nigh, and confirmed by the Senate, to serve as a member of the Oklahoma State Board of Health where he was elected as vice chairman several times during his nine year term.

During his service in the Oklahoma State Senate, Ernest played a major role in the passage of legislation of importance to pharmacy. He was principal author of bills related to Pharmacist Continuing Education and the Drug Vendor Program for the medically indigent. Of special significance to The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy was Ernest's crucial role in acquiring the six million dollar appropriation necessary for the construction and completion, in 1983, of the Henry D. and Ida Mosier Pharmacy Building that currently houses the College on the OU Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City. This was a seminal event in the long and illustrious history of the College of Pharmacy, enabling growth and development at a critical time for the university and the profession.

Ernest and his wife Nita have three children and Ernest credits Nita for providing the inspiration instrumental to their success. In Ernest's own words, "I have experienced a dramatic change in the profession of pharmacy during my career. I grew with it through the times when we called it the "Art of Compounding" but had nothing that would bring about a cure. We had faith that what we were doing would bring about a successful treatment of the symptoms of disease. I am proud to be a part of this great scientific profession."