2010

WEEKOF /\[tft{ 1 [3,2 Cfo

ECCC to honor late ChiefMartin The late Choctaw Tribal

ership of the Choctaw people, officials said. The award will be present– ed during ECCC homecoming activities scheduled ·Saturday, Oct. 2 on the Decatur campus. Martin's widow, Bonnie, and other family members are expected to attend the Alumni Association luncheon begin– ning at noon in Mabry Memo- Martin Continued from page 1A his defeat by current chief, Milm Beasley Denson. in 2007. He was first elected to the Tribal Council in 1957 and sought to improve Choctaw housing as one of his early ini– tiatives. In 1981, Martin per– suaded then Mayor AlJan King and the city of Philadelphia to issue bonds to lure American Greetings to what was then a new industrial park on the Pearl River Reservation. The Choctaws used the bond money to build a 12,000 square– foot building, which was used by the greeting card company for 25 years. At its peak, Ameri– can Greetings employed 150- 250 people and had an annual payroll of more than $2 million. For years Martin traveled across the country talking to CEO trying to convince them to put manufacturing plants on the reservation. The Choctaws

rial Cafeteria when the award will be presented by ECCC PreSident Dr. Phil A. Sutphin. "Chief Martin recognized the value of higher education and workforce training," said Dr. Sutphin. "ECCC entered into a fruitful partnership with MBCI and Chief Martin to provide educational opportuni– ties and workforce training.

Because of the chief's efforts, the college works closely with the economic development arm of the Tnbe and staffs the Integrated Technology Train– ing Center at Choctaw, Miss." Martin, who attended ECCC in 1958-59, served eight consecutive terms as Tribal Chief, from 1979 until See MARTIN, page SA

Chief Phillip Martin will be posthumously presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by East Central Community College in October. Martin, who died Feb. 4, 2010, at 83. will be remem– bered for his dedication to eco– nomic de\elopment, commit– ment to education and his lead-

soon built their own industrial park and Martin's dream of "self-determination and eco– nomic development" for his people, was under way. That dream became even more of a reality with the com– pletion of the $750 million Pearl River Resort, which includes the Silver Star Hotel and Casi– no, Golden Moon Hotel and Casino, Dancing Rabbit Golf Club and Geyser Falls Water Theme Park, described as the "centerpiece" of the tribe's eco– nomic engine. Martin helped bring many other businesses to the Choctaw reservation, among which included a wire harness opera– tion, a plastic molding facility, and printing. direct mail. and construction enterprises, a shop– ping center and several high– tech manufactunng facilities.

APPEARED IN:

NESHOBADEMOCRAT __ v _____

CARTHAGINIAN ______

SCOTT COUNTY TIMES ____ _

NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL ___

vVINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL ---

SPIRIT OF MORTON----- ---

MERIDIAN STAR______

CLARION-LEDGER _ _ _ _ _ _