8.RP.1.2

Governor Martin was born on December 11, 1935, in Savannah, Georgia, but was raised in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Martin’s nickname is Jim. When he was two, his father accepted a pastorate in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Martin lived there until he left for Davidson College. Martin was a tenor in his high schools glee club. It was the influence of W.R. Price, that made Martin want to have a scientific career. W.R. Price was his principal, football coach, and chemistry teacher. During the summer of his junior year, Martin worked as a chemist for Enjay Chemical, in New Jersey. He was an athlete and had a background in chemistry. He also performed in the Charlotte Symphony. Martin attended Davidson College and Princeton University. He spent four years at Davidson College, where he earned a B.S. degree in 1957.Martin also got a Ph.D. from Princeton three years later. He then taught chemistry at Davidson College, from 1960-1972. Martin earned his Ph.D. in 1960. Martin is the son of Arthur Morrison Martin, who was a Presbyterian minister, and the former Mary Julia Grubbs. Martin had three brothers. His older brother Arthur was a pathologist, and his brother Neal was a librarian. His other brother Joseph was a Bank of America executive. All four brothers graduated from Davidson College, and all of them earned doctoral degrees. The Martin family can trace their origins to Dorchester, Massachusetts. Later, ancestors moved to Dorchester County, South Carolina, and eventually to Sunbury and Midway, Georgia. Martin married his wife in 1957. His wife’s name is Dorothy Ann McAulay. His children’s names are James G. Martin Jr., Emily, and Benson Martin. After he finished teaching, Martin ran unsuccessfully for the Davidson Town Board. But, in 1966, he began the first of three terms as the Mecklenburg County Commissioner and served as chair. Martin founded the nine-county Centralina Council of Governments. He served as its chair from 1968 to 1972. In 1970, he was elected president of the North Carolina Association of Regional Councils. In 1972, Martin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and served there until 1984. He was one of six Republicans representing North Carolina. Martin served six terms as a member of the House of Representatives, and was a representative in the National Office. He served as president of the Council of State Governments, and chair of the Southern Regional Education Board, the Southern Growth Policies Board, and the Southern Technology Council. He was the first elected official to receive the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award, and the first Ph.D. to hold office. In 1984, Martin decided to run for governor of N.C. In the Republican primary for governor in 1984, Martin defeated Ruby Hooper. He also became the second member of the Republican Party to be elected governor of N.C. since 1896. In 1988, he was re-elected after defeating his Democratic opponent, Lieutenant Governor Robert B. Jordan III. As governor, Martin focused on roads and education. Governor Martin also held to his promise to see I-40 completed from Raleigh to Wilmington. He boosted industrial development by reducing business taxes and recruiting out-of-state companies, and created 500,000. Governor Martin’s agenda addressed quality of life, better schools, roads, jobs, and a better environment for the people of N.C. He sought to strike a balance between development and environmental protection. Governor Martin left office in 1993, and began a career at the Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte. In 1993 through 2000, he was the Vice-President for research. Martin was the 70th governor of N.C. Martin was a member of the Board of Duke Energy and Family Dollar Stores, but is not a member of Duke Energy anymore. Martin is a politician and a Republican. He is also an accomplished sailor, Shriner, and a Presbyterian layman. Governor Martin is currently employed with McGuire Wood Consulting as a Senior Advisor. Martin has three children, four grandchildren, and is 74.
 * __ Governor James G. Martin __**