Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 8-30-19

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019
B
As He Prepares To Celebrate 75th Birthday, Resident Shares Advice To Becoming A Millionaire
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Self-described as a retired teacher, multi-millionaire plus, investor, in- ventor, songwriter, and land holder, Marvin L. Martin, Sr., will be cel- ebrating his 75th birthday on August 31, 2019. Family and friends will join him at the Golden Corral for a festive time.
Martin was born in Bradenton, FL and attended Florida A&M Uni- versity, graduating in 1968. From there, he was drafted into the U. S. Marines and spent time in Vietnam.
Upon his return to the states, he went back to FAMU and received his Master’s degree in 1971. From there, his educational pursuit took him to Florida State University, where he earned his Specialist Degree.
It was at Florida State where he met the lady of his life, Janett and they were married in 1972. Janett got a job in Tampa and their careers began. As a couple, their number one goal was to be wealthy.
Janett worked for Maas Brothers for 2 years before landing a position with the City of Tampa, where she be- came a trailblazer. She was the first
MARVIN L. MARTIN, SR.
African-American to head a City de- partment when Mayor Bob Mar- tinez promoted her to head the department of Industrial Engineer- ing.
Years later in 1993, Mayor Sandy Freedman appointed
Janett to the position as the first African American City Clerk. She was voted the first African American Pres- ident of the American Society of Pub- lic Administrators (ASPA).
Years later, she was voted the first African American President of the League of Women Voters. Janett was also the first African American woman to serve on the Board of Di- rectors of the Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union. Later, she became the first African American woman to be Chairman of the Tampa Bay Fed- eral Credit Union.
Janett died in 2002.
While Mrs. Martin was making a name for herself in Tampa, Marvin was a teacher at Safety Harbor Middle School until he retired in 2006. He was History teacher, and track and volleyball coach. He won 12 champi- onships and that was tops in school history.
At one time he held four jobs: teacher, adjunct professor at HCC for 19 years; worked in recreation for the Hillsborough County after school pro- gram, and he sold World Book Ency- clopedia for 17 years.
Building A Savings Account
“I married Janett with my
$6,000, and the first year in Tampa, we saved $6,000. The second year in Tampa, we saved $10,000, and the third year, we saved $15,000. In 9 years in Tampa, we had saved $100,000. Five years later, we had ac- cumulated $200,000; 3 years later, $300,000; and it went on and on.
“When Janett died, we were in the range of $1 million. I keep work- ing and saving and investing and I’ve hit the million dollar mark many times.”
Although retired in 2006, Martin did substitute teaching for an addi- tional 10 years, retiring completely in 2016.
Martin says, “Every day is a blessed day for me. In my lifetime, I met all of my goals. I have peace in my heart, and peace with the Lord Jesus Christ. I have peace with my church, my sons, Marvin and Morris, and their families; I have peace with my sisters and friends.
“My message to African Ameri- cans – if you want to be wealthy, you can. All you have to do is pick yourself up by your own bootstrap, go to work, save your money, invest your money and over the years, you will have lots of money.”