Former Lubbock Mayor Tom Martin passed away Tuesday evening after a short and sudden illness. Current Mayor Dan Pope said Martin was a great man and this is a “big loss.”
Martin was mayor from 2008 to 2012. He had been a Lubbock City Council Member for District 5 in Southwest Lubbock.
Martin was a former chief of police in Grapevine and he had also been an officer with the Lubbock Police Department.
While on the council and while in office as mayor, Martin was considered to be instrumental in getting funding to finish the Marsha Sharp Freeway ahead of schedule. He was also instrumental in the development of a portion of Milwaukee Avenue.
Martin was also a weather forecaster for KLBK in the 1970s.
The City of Lubbock released the following statement:
The City of Lubbock mourns the loss of former Mayor Tom Martin. We are grateful for his years of service to our city and his important and lasting contributions to the betterment of our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Martin family.
Pope released the following statement:
Lubbock lost a great man today.
Tom Martin was a true public servant. He not only served us well as Mayor, but did so after retiring from a distinguished career in law enforcement.
His legacy is great, but he will particularly be remembered for two important efforts – his work to secure Lubbock’s water future and his foresight to initiate the Gateway Streets program which resulted in the expansion of Milwaukee, Slide and other other streets. His leadership helped pave the the way for the growth Lubbock enjoys today.
Our thoughts and prayers go to his wife Karen and the Martin family.
Rep. Dustin Burrows released the following statement:
Tom Martin was a true public servant. He was tough, honest and a good person. I am glad to have known him and called him friend. May the peace of God surround his family at this time.
Congressman Jodey Arrington released the following statement:
“Tom was a good friend – one that I admired and respected dearly. As a law enforcement officer and mayor, he led a life of true servanthood, and our community is better and safer because of it. Join me in celebrating the life of a great man and in praying for his family as they mourn the loss of their loved one.”
