O’Malley: Martin did ‘more with less than anyone we’ve ever seen’

“Everybody we ever talked to said Interfaith and Tom Martin do more with less than anyone we’ve ever seen,” said Albany County Sherriff David O’Malley, who served on the Laramie City Council and the United Way of Albany County board of directors. “Of both (the City Council and United Way of Albany County), yours was the only organization we never argued about.”

At Interfaith, an organization founded by a group of female church-goers in the 1970s, Martin said he helped people find resources when other agencies couldn’t.

“I work with every house of worship in the community,” he said. “We assist women, children and men in emergency situations.”

Those situations included people faced with homelessness, hunger and a lack of funds for medical needs, Martin said.

He started at Interfaith in 2000 as an intern while working his way through the University of Wyoming master of social work program. But when the director of Interfaith left, Martin was asked to stay on as executive director.

“When I first came here, I was homeless,” Ivory Fryer said at Martin’s retirement celebration. “You helped me. Ever since then, I’ve volunteered at Interfaith. You became my friend, and I’m going to really miss you.”

City Councilor Joe Shumway recalled a meeting of mayors and city councilors from around the nation where Martin and several other nonprofit organizations gave presentations on the problems Laramie faces and how to fix them.

“We invited Tom Martin to talk poverty, homelessness and how the city of Laramie (is) dealing with it,” Shumway said. “We also had other people doing presentations, but when it was all said and done, Tom Martin was the only one to get a standing ovation.”

After the military, Martin said degenerative disc disease and problems caused by stress and adrenaline kept him from U.S. Air Force occupation — erecting and demolishing structures.

“As my health started deteriorating, I couldn’t do construction work anymore,” he said. “The doctors at the (Veterans Administration) said I had a way with talking to people, and they suggested I looked at social work.”

Using the G.I. Bill, he attended courses at Laramie County Community College before earning his master’s degree at UW.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church Rev. Dick Naumann said when Martin attended UW, he was instrumental at building an underground veteran’s assistance program before the veterans services center was created.

“I can attest to the fact that Tom is not only good at giving out resources but also at collecting them,” City Councilor Klaus Hanson said. “I’m always amazed at how well he collects funds for this organization. He is a consummate arm twister.”

While administrators, politicians and board members applauded Martin’s ability to haggle, members of the public praised his generosity.

“When my Social Security check didn’t show up, he paid my rent and he paid my electricity without even blinking,” Glennie Fryer said. “He even gave me money for gas.”

The room filled with laughter when Martin added, “I just give most people a can of beans,” after thanking Glennie Fryer for her tearful testimony.

Charlie Ksir is scheduled to replace Martin as an interim director at Interfaith.

Despite retirement, Martin said he doesn’t plan to stop working. Instead, he said he plans to found Community Action of Albany County, an agency with a similar mission statement to Interfaith.

“It would bring between $250,000 and 300,000 into the county,” he said. “I talked to the (Interfaith) board of directors about becoming a community action agency, but they weren’t interested.”

At 62 years old, Martin said he wasn’t ready to stop contributing to the community.

“I’ll quit working when they plant me,” he said.