Subj : Johnny Martin
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : John Iwaniszek
Date : Fri Sep 02 2005 01:43:13

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

"A group of county officials and friends of the late Johnny L. Martin, Sr., 
gathered Sunday morning on Wallen's Creek to unveil a road sign designating 
Route 755, ... in memory of he former Lee County Sheriff's Department 
Deputy."

Jonny Martin was the beloved older brother of my best friend in High 
School.  Johnny had contracted polio as a child and had a withered arm.  
His good arm had more than compensated and he wsa able to throw bales of 
hay up into the loft one-armed, and more than capable to help with the 
annual tobacco crop.  He eventually got a job with the Sheriff's 
department, survived the antiquated spoils system whereby new Sheriff's 
elected form the opposing party would fire all deputies with the wrong 
party registration.  He was a amiable man and well respected in the county.

"Mr. Martin,... was 15 year veteran of the LCSD, and ... was killed at the 
age of 38 in the line of duty in November, 1988 while on patrol in wetern 
Lee County."

His brother Paul thinks that Johnny was executed by his fellow deputies, 
and claims to have been run off the road by law enforcement elements after 
raising questions about details and inconsistencies in the official report.

"Mr. Martin was born in Lee County, graduated in 1971 from Jonesville High 
School, and was employed January 23, 1974 as a dispatcher, subsequently as 
jailor, then assuming a position as road officer."

When I first read the Powell Valley News article the quotes above are from, 
I got a strange poingient feeling.  Johnny is a part of my history as well.  
It is a strange feeling to realize that your first and only jailor is dead 
and is now honored for his service.  I always respected him.  I was found 
innocent of the charges I spent all of 20 minutes in that metal cage for, 
and Johnny was not cruel or rough.  He was a gentle and calming force and 
we joked as he locked me up.  It's a memory I will always have and 
frequently replay, and because of him it wasn't a terrible experience.

.