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 89^th 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.