John Schwarz: “I rise today in honor of a dear friend of mine, Mr. William C. Martin. This month Mr. Martin will be receiving the Sixth…”

“I rise today in honor of a dear friend of mine, Mr. William C. Martin. This month Mr. Martin will be receiving the Sixth Biannual Humanitarian Award from the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County, an organization in my district. Bill's integrity, modesty and selfless devotion to the betterment of society make him an embodiment of the ideals represented by this award. He has used his success as a businessman and influence as a community leader to help those in need. When he was still an MBA student at the University of Michigan, he took on the challenge of helping unemployed, and seemingly unemployable, men find jobs in the community. Bill Martin's reputation of honor and integrity has led others to look to him in times of difficulty. When he was asked to become the University of Michigan's athletic director at a time when the department needed reform, he not only agreed, he insisted on doing so at no salary. He succeeded in helping turn things around so effectively that he was asked to remain in that position in a permanent capacity, where he remains today. When the United States Olympic Committee, on whose board Bill served from 1992 to 2003, was shaken by scandal, he agreed to serve as president and help the organization set a better course. Bill Martin is one of those rare individuals who combines altruism, honesty and leadership to effect positive change on the local, State and national levels.”