Recipient of Iowa's First Heart Transplant Dies

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Mar 18, 2010 at 4:38 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2010 at 8:46 PM CST

IOWA CITY - A man who made history in Iowa a quarter-century ago has died.

Emerson Martin was the state's first heart transplant recipient in June, 1985.

Doctors at University Iowa Hospitals and Clinics gave the then 25-year-old a 50 percent chance of surviving that first year.

Martin survived, and made it nearly 25 more years.

His wife says he was healthy, until his heart suddenly stopped Wednesday night.

Martin was 50-years-old.

Martin received the heart from a donor who died from injuries in a motorcycle accident.

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