Bill Text: SC S0451 | 2015-2016 | 121st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Tommy E. Martin
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-02-17 - Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence [S0451 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2015-S0451-Introduced.html
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR TOMMY E. MARTIN OF GAFFNEY FOR A HALF CENTURY OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN THE FIELD OF NEWSPAPER JOURNALISM, FOR NEARLY TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OF OUTSTANDING WORK AS PUBLISHER AND EDITOR OF THE CHEROKEE CHRONICLE, AND FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO THE GAFFNEY COMMUNITY.
Whereas, in April 1965, the young Tommy Martin went to work for the Gaffney Ledger as a cub reporter/photographer. He was a full-time student at Limestone College that year, but his father, only forty-nine at the time, died suddenly in January 1965 from a heart attack, so Tommy was forced to go to work. His early launch into the newspaper business was to become a life calling; and
Whereas, in succeeding years, he graduated from Limestone College (1968), worked for the Savannah Morning News and Spartanburg Herald-Journal as a bureau chief, and returned to the Gaffney Ledger as editor before inaugurating his career as publisher and editor of the Cherokee Chronicle on June 27, 1991; and
Whereas, over the course of his fifty-year newspaper career, Tommy Martin has spent a few years pursuing other endeavors. However, even during such periods, he has kept involved in one aspect or another of the newspaper business. Always, he has sought to uphold the highest standards in journalism; and
Whereas, further, in the life of a community, few things are as important as communication among its residents so that a sense of community can be developed, neighbors can become friends and learn to trust and serve one another, and local events that help to build quality of life can be planned and carried out. Tommy Martin has labored to make his newspaper a relevant contributor toward achieving these ends through practices such as frequent, willing donations of time, free advertising, articles, and photos to all the charities in Cherokee County. In addition, he has worked diligently to make the public aware of important community issues; and
Whereas, he finds strong support in his family, including his wife of thirty-five years, Ann Blanton Martin; their family of three, Tiffany, Jonathan, and Joshua; and the five delightful grandchildren their children have given them. The Martins derive their spiritual nourishment as members of First Baptist Church of Gaffney; and
Whereas, Tommy Martin is a consistent winner of hundreds of state and national awards in every category of writing, photography, and advertising, among them plaudits for his coverage of women in the workplace, veterans' affairs, disabled citizens, and education. Named by Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer a Palmetto Patriot for his service to the people of this great State, he also received the Cherokee County Republican Party Community Service Award. Moreover, he is the author of two books; and
Whereas, because he believes firmly in active involvement in the community, Tommy Martin is a member of several organizations, including the Limestone College Board of Trustees, YMCA (twice-elected board chairman), Gaffney Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow and former board member); and
Whereas, Tommy Martin has amply demonstrated his commitment to Gaffney and its people. With much admiration, the General Assembly is pleased to join with the citizens of Gaffney in commending him for his impressive work as publisher and managing editor of the Cherokee Chronicle and in saluting him for five decades of exemplary newspaper journalism. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Tommy E. Martin of Gaffney for a half century of dedicated service in the field of newspaper journalism, for nearly twenty-four years of outstanding work as publisher and editor of the Cherokee Chronicle, and for his commitment to the Gaffney community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Tommy E. Martin.
