The United Way of Lamar County (UWLC) announced today that their Annual Breakfast Meeting will be on Wednesday, August 20th at 9am at the Love Civic Center.
A highlight every year is the presentation of the Lifetime Community Service Leadership Award. This year’s recipient is Judy Martin.
Judy Martin was born and reared in Wolfe City, Texas and attended Draughon’s Business College in Dallas and worked as a secretary for the Fire Marshall and Arson Investigators at the Dallas Fire Department. She graduated from East Texas State University in 1977 with a BA in Business Education. Received a MA from ETSU in 1979 with a major in Broadfield Business Education and a minor in Community College Education.
Mrs. Martin was an adjunct faculty teaching at ETSU during her Master’s studies. Upon graduation, she taught Business one year at Greenville High School. In 1980, she moved to Houston and taught Vocational Office Education Lab for 14 years and Vocational Office Education Coop for 3 years at Aldine Senior High School. She also taught Business classes as adjunct faculty at Tomball College and Kingwood College during that time. Retiring from teaching in 1997, she moved back to North Texas and Paris. and Chisum in 2004 and 2005.
In March, 2005 Judy was hired as Executive Director of the Paris/Lamar County Habitat for Humanity and served in that capacity for 19 years, retiring on December 31, 2024.
She is a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, and has served as Lay Leader at both Calvary and Oak Park United Methodist Church, as well as many other positions in both churches. Member of United Methodist Women at Oak Park.
Judy Martin currently serves on the Board of Directors for Paris/Lamar County Habitat for Humanity, HomeStay, PJC Wesley Center, and Adult and Teen Challenge and is a member of Kiwanis Club of Paris and served on that board several years. In the past she served on the Boards of Keep Paris Beautiful, Friends of the Maxey, RSVP, Crimestoppers, Lamar County Homelessness Coalition, COAD and VITA Business and Professional Women.
Previously she was a Paris Community Theater Usher and a member of the Noon Study Club, the Oak Park and Calvary Handbell Choir, the Paris Cloggers, and the Paris Squares Square Dance Club.
She is also a member of Lamar/Delta Retired Teachers Association and served as secretary of that organization for several years.
She also currently volunteers as part of the Paris Regional Medical Auxiliary. Mrs. Martin received the RSVP Presidential Award for over 4,000 volunteer hours and in 2009 she was named the Kiwanis Club Lay Person of the Year in 2009.
Judy married Joe Martin in 1961 and has been a widow since 1999. They had three daughters, nine grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
At the Annual Breakfast Meeting, the Outstanding Workplace Campaigns from last year’s Campaign will be recognized as well as the Campaign Cabinet volunteers who run those campaigns. The partner agency Volunteer of the Year will also be recognized.
Tickets for the Annual Breakfast Meeting are $20 each or a table (seats 8) can be purchased for $200. To reserve a ticket or table email jenny.wilson@lamarcountyuw.org or call the United Way office at 903-784-6642.
