James T. Martin, Jr.
Category
2008About This Inductee
A graduate of Meyers High School, Jim lettered in football, wrestling and track. He was a member of the 1974 undefeated Wyoming Valley Conference and PA State Championship Football Team, the 1975 Wyoming Valley Conference Championship team, and was named Wyoming Observer’s All-Scholastic Offensive Guard and Meyers Offensive Lineman of the Year. He received the Prep All-American Football Award in 1975 and was a 1976 UNICO All-Star. In track, he was a District Qualifier in three events and was a two-time JV District Champion. In 1976 he was the PA Freestyle/Greco-Roman District and Regional Champion, and State third place winner at 178 lbs. He was named to the PA National Team, participating in the Junior National FS/GR Championships. Jim accepted an academic/athletic scholarship for wrestling and football at Wilkes University, lettering two seasons.
Jim’s martial arts accomplishments as a 2nd degree Black Belt are 1978 PA State champ at 189 lbs., 1979 Canada/American Invitational participant and 1980 AAU Judo National Championships. Jim is also a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate with approximately 500 career fighting victories and 8 Grand Championships. He was named by Karate Illustrated as a Nationally Ranked Fighting Competitor in 1983-84-85, and participated in the 1986 and 1988 AAU National Karate Championships. In bodybuilding, he took 1st place (35-year bracket) and 3rd place in the Men’s Open in the 1993 NDFBA “Night of the Naturals” and 5th place in the Men’s Open in the 1994 NPC Bodybuilding Championships. He participated in the 1998 Strength American “Sugarloaf Strongman Competition” (Masters-40 years), taking 1st place in the under 200 lb. division.
Jim also participates in local community events, coaching Forty Fort Little League/Girls Softball, Forty Fort Flyers Football, WVW Girls Basketball, Wilkes-Barre’s YMCA Elementary Wrestling Program, Wyoming Valley West Junior High Wrestling, Wyoming Valley West Varsity Wrestling (assistant coach), Meyers High School assistant strength/conditioning coach 2006 to present. James and his wife Donna presently reside in Forty Fort and are the parents of two, James T. Martin III and Kaitlyn Martin.