Dr. Martin Allen McCullough, Sr. age 84, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2016.  A native of Murfreesboro, TN, Dr. McCullough was born on August 30, 1932. He was the son of the late Colonel Hubert Laws McCullough and Virginia Garrett McCullough; she was preceded by his brother, Robert Garrett McCullough and sister-in-law, Sue Harris McCullough both previously of Nashville, TN.

Dr. McCullough is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lynda Maughan McCullough; son, Martin Allen McCullough, Jr. of Metairie, LA; daughter, Elizabeth Maughan McCullough of Mountain View, CA; brother, Hubert Laws McCullough and his wife Dene; sister, Martha McCullough Bolding and her husband Granville S.R. Bouldin of all of Murfreesboro, TN; along with many nieces and nephews.

Dr. McCullough graduated from Central High School in Murfreesboro, attended Vanderbilt University and Middle Tennessee State University where he earned his bachelor and master's degrees. He obtained his Doctor of Education degree from George Peabody College for Teachers majoring in educational curriculum and supervision in 1963. Before attending Peabody he was a teacher at Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon and in the public schools of Murfreesboro. He served as principal of Hobgood Elementary School in Murfreesboro. He was also in the Tennessee National Guard.

A very successful career began in education where Dr. McCullough was Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Paducah, KY where he was named "Outstanding Young Educator" of Kentucky by the Jaycees of Kentucky in 1965. He was one of several thousand young educators to compete throughout the country and was named one of America's "Four Outstanding Young Educators" for 1966-1967 by the United States Jaycees.

He then continued his career at the University of Georgia where he was chairman of the Department of Education. In 1970 Dr. McCullough moved to Louisville, KY where he was Deputy Superintendent of the Louisville City Schools and then to Oak Park, IL where he was Superintendent of Schools from 1976-1979.

Returning to his hometown of Murfreesboro, TN in 1979 Dr. McCullough was employed by McCullough and Associates the State Department of Education and Middle Tennessee State University in the Department of Educational Leadership. He loved teaching.

He was a scholar and a true intellectual who loved to read and had his very own library in his home. He loved to travel and took his children to Scotland and Alaska. He was a hiker and loved the outdoors. He was on the Murfreesboro City School Board and also the Murfreesboro City Council.

Dr. McCullough was a member of the First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, the church he attended as a child.  He taught Sunday school, the Discovery Class and was a Deacon. He was a true Christian. As his brother Bob once said, "Martin is the best of us."

Funeral services will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. Pastor Noel Schoonmaker and Rev. Paul Donner of Paducah, KY will officiate.  Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund at 200 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 in memory of Dr. McCullough.