Dublin lost two people of service last week, prompting many to remember what they contributed to their community.
Becky Norris
The Dublin City Council meeting Monday night was opened with Mayor David Leatherwood recognizing the loss of Becky Norris, a former Dublin mayor. He asked Ben Pate to lead the crowd in a moment of silence in recognition of her before the traditional prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Norris was a woman who may be remembered for a wealth of positions in businesses from hospitals to Tarleton State University, but she was particularly proud of her civic service. She worked for Dublin as a City Council member before running for mayor. She was elected to the position in 2011, becoming the second woman to serve the post. (The first was Katherine Prater) See her obituary on page A4 for more information.
Gus Martin
Dublin mourned a dedicated volunteer, historian and scholar Monday as Gus Martin was laid to rest.
“Gus was one of those guys who was quiet but would do what needs to be done,” said Pat Leatherwood, president of Dublin Rotary Club, one of many organizations Martin served to better Dublin. “He and Willard [Mann] have always been two guys you could depend on,” he added.
Leatherwood remembers Martin’s years of service fondly, saying he could be relied on even in advancing age.
“If you needed someone to climb a ladder, Gus would already be up there,” Leatherwood marveled. “He had no fear of heights.”
This could be traced to his many years climbing towers while working in broadcast and engineering, helping crews and installing television stations around the country. This service included the chief engineer position for the Oral Roberts Evangelical Association in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also produced shows for other companies which included segments for the popular variety show, ‘Hee-Haw.’
Martin retired as the Vice President of Engineering for the Walton Company and operated his own broadcast engineering consultation business. He traveled all over the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico. His work even led him to work on the transmitters on the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center.
This interest in broadcast and engineering which started early while working for local movie theaters made him ideal for problem-solving when he returned home to Erath County.
If you needed to figure out something, he would go home and build it,” Leatherwood said of Martin’s engineering prowess. “Modern electric guys would scratch their heads asking how he came up with that. He was a sharp guy when it came to electronics. You couldn’t beat him.”
Martin was recipient of the Rotary’s prestigious Paul Harris Fellow award in 2008 and was at hand for projects like the renovation of the Rotary building and the historic bridge placed at the Dublin Public Library.
He also received an award from Tarleton State University for his role in developing the Tarleton radio broadcast.
Martin served on the Dublin Historical Museum board, often volunteered as monthly host and helped with projects there. He aided in the Christmas in Action home renovation projects when those were active in Dublin and served on the Dublin Live Oak Cemetery board and helped repair and straighten tombstones. Martin was also a member of the Erath County Historical Society and the Dublin First Baptist Church. His service also included enlistment in the U.S. Army from 1947-49.
Readersof the DublinCitizen may remember Martin for his regular submissions and columns, “Born to Be Great” and America’s Road to Now,” which reflected his interests as a scholar of history who liked to turn to the written accounts of the people present. At the age of 94, Martin leaves a legacy of helping his country and community and sharing the knowledge and history he loved to collect. His presence will long be felt in the community he benefitted.