The Judge Donald H. Martell Endowed Scholarship

The Honorable Donald H. Martell Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at The University of Akron School of Law in November 2004, in memory of Judge Donald H. Martell. He was a devoted lawyer and public servant and was respected for the qualities that made him a good judge: intelligence, integrity, patience, a good sense of humor and good common sense.

Donald H. Martell was born in Ravenna, Ohio, and was a lifelong resident of Portage County. He graduated from The University of Akron in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and in 1970 with his law degree. After graduation, he joined the law firm of Seabury Ford and worked with the Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps from 1970 to 1976. He served several Portage County communities during his career where he worked as law director and assistant law director respectively. In 1997, he was appointed to the bench to fill a vacancy in the Portage County Municipal Court where he remained until his untimely death in 2004.

Judge Martell was married to Linda Martell, a 1969 graduate of The University of Akron’s College of Education. They have two sons, Andrew and Matthew. Matthew is a 1998 graduate of Akron’s School of Law.

The Honorable Donald H. Martell Scholarship Fund was established to provide financial support to law students at The University of Akron. In Judge Martell’s memory, preference will be given to applicants from Portage County.