[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE AND DEDICATED SERVICE OF THOMAS E. MARTIN OF DeFUNIAK 
                            SPRINGS, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life 
and dedicated service of DeFuniak Springs, Florida's beloved Mr. Thomas 
E. Martin, who passed away on June 16, 2014. Thomas Martin was a 
veteran, successful business owner, committed public servant, and 
loving family man. The entire Northwest Florida community mourns the 
loss of a great and compassionate man.
  Born on July 27, 1927, to J.D. and Evie Jones Martin, Mr. Martin 
served our Nation as a member of the U.S. Army during WWII before 
enjoying a long and successful career as a civil servant. He retired 
after 30 years as the Plumbing Shop Supervisor at Eglin Air Force Base, 
Florida. Mr. Martin was also a successful small business owner, running 
Martin's Tire Company in his hometown of DeFuniak Springs. He took 
great pride in employing his neighbors, and he was also known for 
traveling through town to search for folks looking to work on the 
weekends at his small farm to help give them a small paycheck and the 
satisfaction that comes with a good day's work.
  Mr. Martin was also an avid sports fan and a talented athlete in his 
own right who played professional baseball in the minor leagues before 
forming the town's first semi-pro baseball team, the DeFuniak Indians, 
where he was both a player and manager. Thanks to his wife and three 
daughters, Mr. Martin was also a softball fan, and he formed the town's 
first girls' and women's softball leagues. His passion for the game 
coupled with his tireless work supporting local leagues, he was 
nominated by his daughter, Cindy, for Major League Baseball's ``Most 
Valuable Dad'' award, and he was selected as the ``Most Valuable Dad'' 
for the Atlanta Braves organization.
  In addition to his successful careers and immense leadership in his 
community, Mr. Martin was also a member of First United Methodist 
Church of DeFuniak and greatly enjoyed the hunting, fishing, and 
outdoor recreational activities in and around his hometown. He was 
known for leading hunting trips for dignitaries and was also a great 
friend to all manner of animals. He often took in disadvantaged animals 
to provide for them a good home. To some, Mr. Martin will be remembered 
as a dedicated public servant and a man full of integrity and kindness. 
To his family and friends, he will always be remembered as a loving and 
devoted family man with a heart of gold.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is a 
privilege for me to honor the life and dedicated service of Mr. Thomas 
E. Martin. My wife Vicki and I extend our prayers and sincere 
condolences to his wife of over 65 years, Sabra; daughters, Susan, 
Cindy, and Toma; brother, Frank; grandchildren, Lindsey, Kyle, Tiffany, 
Matt, Briana, Brent, and Troy; great-grandchildren, Gunnar, Erilyn, 
Ashton, Loren, River, Caden, Hadley, and Zoey (grandchild-to-be); and 
the entire Martin family.

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