As businessman, mayor, Martin was ‘ultimate servant’

Martin

Former city mayor Thomas C. Martin is being remembered as a man of integrity who cared deeply about people in Altoona and the surrounding area.

Martin, 85, died Friday morning of natural causes. Elected as mayor in 1997, Martin served two terms from 1998-2006. He then served on the Altoona Water Authority board of directors and was also a co-owner of Martin Oil Co.

Martin was preceded in death by two wives and is survived by his children — Karen Padula, John, Tom, Steve and Dan Martin — and several grandchildren.

A funeral service was held Monday morning at Jon C. Russin Funeral Home Inc. in Bellwood, where friends, family members and former colleagues grieved his passing.

Interment was at Logan Valley Cemetery in Bellwood.

Martin served as chairman of the board for the Martin Oil Co., where he remained active until his death. Padula is the company’s secretary, Dan Martin is its treasurer and Tom Martin serves as the company’s president.

Padula said she remembers an auditor visiting the company once while she was working on the company’s payroll. Padula was reportedly stressed by the visit, but Martin was “always optimistic” and saw it as a chance to improve.

“He said, ‘I like when auditors come in.’ and I said, ‘Dad, what part of that do you like?’ and he said, ‘They’ll tell us if we do something wrong or we can fix it,’” Padula said. “He always found a way to get stuff done.”

Wayne Hippo, who served on city council when Martin was mayor and later succeeded him in the position, said Martin was “the perfect man for the job at the perfect time when he took over,” noting the city council was in “disarray” at that time. Martin “brought a very professional and open environment” to the city, Hippo said.

“Tom and I voted on opposite sides of a few major issues, and I always thought he was pretty courageous in sticking to his core beliefs. He was the ultimate servant,” Hippo said, adding Martin had a sense of humor and would always exchange jokes with former city solicitor Bob Alexander.

“I have nothing but the best memories from working with Tom and watching what he accomplished in those eight years,” Hippo said.

Bill Schrif, a former mayor who served with Martin on the Altoona Water Authority’s board of directors for three years, said he will remember his friend as “an exceptional individual” who “was a highly successful businessman.”

“I speak highly of Tom Martin and I always will,” Schrif said. “I was impressed with his leadership and how he cared for people.”

Altoona Water Authority general manager Mark Perry said Martin appreciated transparency and used business techniques to improve the authority as much as possible.

“I think his desire and willingness to serve in the public capacity demonstrates a lot of who Tom was. He certainly didn’t need to do it, and he did,” Perry said. “Tom was one of those anchor guys you could rely on for doing the right thing.”

Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council president Bob Kutz said his organization supported the opposing candidate when Martin was running for mayor, but after Martin won the position, he approached the central labor council and wanted to work together, Kutz said, adding they created a labor management coalition and often discussed ideas of how to make the city a better place to live and work.

“Tom Martin was one of the finest mayors that you could possibly have,” Kutz said, adding Martin was “always a gentleman.”

Former city manager Omar Strohm was the city’s finance and human resources director when Martin was mayor. Strohm said Martin brought “a high level of class” to the position while serving as the city’s mayor.

“He had a big personality and he was very warm, but he could really keep you on point, too,” Strohm said.

Ron Reidell, who served on the City Council from 2000-08, said Martin “thought the world of” his friends, family members and neighbors.

“He was a terrific leader and just an all-around great guy. He will be missed,” Reidell said.

Martin was the city’s mayor when current councilman Bruce Kelley was elected. For a while, Kelley was one of Martin’s neighbors, he said, noting they also knew each other through the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, an organization of which Martin was also the former president.

According to Kelley, Martin was caring, compassionate and “wanted to do what was best for the people of Altoona.”

“Tom was very detail oriented and worked very hard to keep all of us on council informed to try to build consensus on issues. That was very important to him,” Kelley said, adding Martin will be missed.

“He always had the best interests of the people at heart,” Kelley said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.