Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes Namesakes
12
course. His family
arrived there in the
mid-1800s, both
sides of the family.
His father was
an accountant for
the Birdwell Oil
Company, while he
pastored the local
Baptist church.
His mom stayed at
home and raised
their nine children.
The family relo-
cated to O’Dell,
Texas, when young
Jim was an eighth-
grader.
Martin was an enthusiastic member of FFA and credits
so much of his knowledge of soil conservation, construc-
tion, agriculture and land development to his experience
as an ag kid growing up in a small town.
“I started in the construction business when I was real
young,” Martin said. “After college, I decided to go into
business for myself.”
Martin distinguished himself in the development
industry early on, primarily building rural water compa-
nies and water co-ops.
“I built a lot of FMHA water co-ops early on,” he said.
In the late ‘60s and ‘70s the federal government was
interested in funding rural water companies.
“They funded rural water companies for rural develop-
ment in the same way they funded rural education and
rural telephone companies. Through that I began to buy,
sell and develop land.”
Among Martin’s largest and most widely-known
projects are a 2000-acre residential development with a
championship golf course near Houston.
In 1989, three men contacted Martin. The trio had
partnered together to develop a pari-mutuel horse racing
track in Parker County. They needed Martin’s expertise to
solve their water and sewage issues. The track was called
Trinity Meadows.
“I only came here to do that,” he said. “In a month or
two they asked me to stay and I stayed.”
Since that time, Martin has developed thousands of
acres of land in Parker County.
Martin’s latest project, one that takes him back to
his family’s roots, is the building project of Willow Park
Baptist Church.
“Willow Park Baptist Church is extremely exciting,”
Martin said. The 60-acre project has a $30 million price
tag and will include a sports complex for youth. Jerry
Stockton and Steve Brown are doing an excellent job
of that. “It’s in what I call the Crown Point Develop-
ment Involvement of the Wilks Family, and Texas Health
Resources has made that project an exciting one.”
Martin has also just returned from Austin. “We got an
approval for a 2,500-acre MUD District at Bear Creek
Ranch,” he said.
A Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a politi-
cal subdivision of the State of Texas authorized by
the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
to provide water, sewage, drainage and other utility-relat-
ed services within the MUD boundaries.
“There is a massive amount of work going into the
Willow Park area and in Weatherford,” Martin said.
Besides his work in real estate and land development,
the work that is near and dear to Martin’s heart is help-
ing talented young people develop their skills in raising
and showing cattle and other livestock. Dozens of Parker
County’s young people credit Martin with helping them
to develop their Ag and FFA projects.
Why does he devote valuable time and energy
into helping kids reach their full potential in the highly
competitive world of Ag and FFA competitions?
“I know what a difference it made my life growing
up,” Martin said. “I think it’s important.”
Patsy Hooks Pet Rescue Award
She was Weath-
erford’s beautiful
first lady. Through-
out her life, Patsy
Hooks had a huge
heart for animals
and advocated for
their care and help-
ing them find their
“furever homes.”
Patsy also
believed in serv-
ing others. Largely
through her efforts,
Weatherford’s dog
pound became a
shining example of
an animal shelter. It
was natural that Weatherford’s new Dog Park was named
for Patsy, who passed away in 2013.The Patsy Hooks Pet
Rescue Award honors someone who goes beyond the call
of duty to help otherwise unwanted pets, just as Patsy
did.
Dr. Noel Bryan Veterinarian
Science Award
Dr. Noel Bryan bought an existing veterinary practice
in Parker County 60 years ago and for the first 15 years