Thomas A. Martin

1948 - 2018

Lubbock- Thomas Allen Martin passed away Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life of 69 years on Monday, April 2, 2018, at 1 p.m. at Cumberland Presbyterian Church. A tribute of Thomas's life may be found at www.memorialdesigners.net, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family.

Thomas Allen was born on December 31, 1948 to Elmer and Mary Van Valkenburg Martin in Rome, New York. On November 24, 1969, Thomas married the love of his life, Karen Leckie at First Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, Texas. Tom earned his Master of Public Administration degree at Texas Tech University in 1977. He was named an MPA Distinguished Alumnus in 2014.

Tom worked as a news reporter for KLBK in 1968 until 1970, when he began his career as Public Information Officer for the City of Lubbock. He served with the Lubbock Police Department from 1974 until he was appointed Chief of Police in San Marcos in 1990. Tom then became Chief of Police in Grapevine in 1992, where he served until 1998. Following a 28-year career in law enforcement, he taught political science courses at South Plains College and criminal justice courses at Wayland Baptist University. Mr. Martin was elected to serve on the Lubbock City Council for District 5 serving four years with the final two years as Mayor Pro Tem. He was elected on May 10, 2009 and served as the Mayor of Lubbock for two consecutive terms. Following a ten-year career in municipal government, he began teaching government courses at Texas Tech University.

Tom was actively involved in the community volunteering and serving with numerous community organizations. He served on the boards of the Salvation Army and Scottish Rite Learning Center. Tom was a 33rd Degree Mason and a member of Lubbock Lion's Club. He was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and chair of the finance committee.

Survivors include his wife, Karen Martin; brother, Patrick Martin and wife, Rene; Donna Martin; Linda Martin and husband, Gene Mileken; and Sally Johnson and husband, Rodney; and Max, his Glen of Imaal Terrier.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Mary Martin.

In lieu of flowers, the Martin family suggests the following charities Tom actively supported: Scottish Rite Learning Center of West Texas, 1101 70th Street

Lubbock, TX 79412; Salvation Army, 1111 16th St, Lubbock, TX 79401, www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/; Texas Boys Ranch, www.texasboysranch.org, and the Boys and Girls Clubs, P.O. Box 94163, Lubbock, Texas 79493; www.lubbockbgc.org.