James D. Martin Day
WHEREAS, it is with great respect and gratitude that James D. Martin is commended for his service to the state of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, after studying at Massey Business College and Birmingham School of Law, Mr. Martin worked for Pan Am Petroleum Corporation until enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of major; and
WHEREAS, during World War II, he served under General George Patton where he helped to open the gate of the first concentration camp liberated by American Forces and was instrumental in Austria’s cleanup and restoration; and
WHEREAS, after the war, Mr. Martin returned home and established Martin Oil Company; he was later elected president of the Associated Industries of Alabama, which is now known as the Business Council of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, in 1964, Mr. Martin launched his campaign for U.S. House of Representatives and was elected as a member of the 89th Congress; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was later appointed as Commissioner of Alabama’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; under his leadership, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Alabama to restore the offshore boundary line for drilling oil; and
WHEREAS, he was also instrumental in initiating an audit of oil companies that resulted in adding more than $200 million to the state’s Oil and Gas Trust Fund; a portion of the interest earned by this fund made Mr. Martin’s dream of the Forever Wild program possible; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Martin has provided invaluable leadership to the Republican Party, the Kiwanis Club of Gadsden, the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra and the First United Methodist Church of Gadsden; and
WHEREAS, James D. Martin is a source of pride to the state of Alabama and truly deserving of such an honor:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim October 22, 2013, as
James D. Martin Day
in the state of Alabama.
Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov