Pickens County Journalism Since 1999
Intersection of South Carolina Highway 153 and U.S. Highway 123 is named Senator Larry A. Martin Intersection, special presentation is made on Saturday, June 7, 2025
By Karen Brewer, Publisher & Editor
Longtime legislator and past State Senator Larry A. Martin and his wife, Susan, of Pickens, are pictured on June 7, 2025 with their son, Anthony, their youngest daughter, Anna Leigh Lander, and her husband, Will Lander, and their oldest daughter, Caroline Swiger, and her husband, Aaron Swiger, and four of their grandchildren, Emma, Andy, Hazel, and Molly Swiger. Unable to be present were daughter-in-law, Melissa Martin, and three granddaughters, Lily Jane, Bree, and Eloise Martin. (Photo courtesy of Larry Martin to The Pickens County Chronicle.)
The intersection of State Highway 153 and U.S. Highway 123 will be known as the Senator Larry A. Martin intersection, recognizing Martin’s work in seeing Highway 153 extended, as well as his many accomplishments during his 38 years in the General Assembly, beginning in 1979. A resolution to name the intersection in his honor was passed by the South Carolina General Assembly, and a special presentation was made the morning of Saturday, June 7, 2025.
“I was very honored that they chose to do that, and it was a very special thing,” Senator Martin told The Pickens County Chronicle. “That was a real nice occasion. Members of the delegation were very thoughtful to do that, and I was just very humbled by their decision to do that in my honor. That was tremendous. This is my ninth year out of the legislature, so, that somewhat took me by surprise, that they wanted to do it. I said that, oftentimes, they do these things after you pass on, and you don’t even know it, and I guess I get the privilege of actually seeing it done. That’s pretty nice. I’m very appreciative.”
Present for the special ceremony were several members of Martin’s family, his wife, Susan, their son, Anthony, who lives in Alabama, their oldest daughter, Caroline, and her husband, Aaron Swiger, and their four children, Emma, Andy, Hazel, and Molly, and the Martins’ youngest daughter, Anna Leigh, and her husband, Will Lander. Unable to attend were their daughter-in-law, Melissa, and granddaughters Lily Jane, Bree, and Eloise Martin.
Also present for the occasion were State Representatives Davey Hiott of Pickens, Neal Collins of Easley, and Phillip Bowers of Six Mile, who were instrumental in getting the legislation to pass in the South Carolina State House of Representatives, and State Senators Rex Rice of Easley and Thomas Alexander of Walhalla, who were instrumental in seeing the legislation pass in the South Carolina Senate. Martin noted, “I had a couple of my former colleagues there,” referring to former State Representatives Phil Owens of Easley and Al Robinson of Easley. Also present was Ted Creech, Director of Governmental Affairs with the South Carolina Department of Transportation. “He’s their government liaison, and I’ve known him for a long time,” said Martin. “He made it a point to come up, and I really appreciated it.”
Hiott told The Pickens County Chronicle, “After 30 plus years of public service to Pickens County, he needed to be honored and recognized. He had a big hand in making sure that that road, 153, was expanded, and we couldn’t find a better place to honor him with naming that intersection on his behalf. I’m proud to be a part of it and excited I got to serve with him for awhile.”
“It was a real treat to honor Senator Martin,” Bowers told The Pickens County Chronicle. “He has done so much for the county over the years, and I’m glad we were able to do that. That intersection is very appropriate to name for him, because he had so much to do with getting that intersection improved, along with the Saco Lowell site, as well. I’m very thankful for all that Larry has done over the years.”
Rice told The Pickens County Chronicle, “I think it’s a great honor for him. He served in five decades. I don’t mean 50 years but in five different decades, which is significant. Very few people do that. He was instrumental as far as 153 being extended — not only extended but being widened. When I moved out here, I remember it was a two-lane road from Easley all of the way out to I-85. So, in my time being here, it’s gone from two lanes to four lanes. He was instrumental in that and instrumental in helping the extension, going over to Saluda Dam Road. I think it’s a great honor for him to receive that acknowledgment of naming that intersection named for him.”
Robinson told The Pickens County Chronicle, “I think it’s a well earned and well deserved recognition of his many, many years, decades, we should say, of service to the citizens of Pickens County and the state of South Carolina and I couldn’t be more happy about it, because he has certainly earned it. And also it’s recognition for his family for the many sacrifices they’ve made to enable him to be such an effective representative in the South Carolina House and Senate over the years. So, I think it’s very fitting, and I’m very happy for him and his family. I think it’s a great tribute.”
State Representatives Neal Collins, of Easley, and Davey Hiott, of Pickens, make the sign presentation to Senator Larry Martin on June 7, 2025. Also present for the special occasion were former state Representative Al Robinson of Easley, former state Representative Phil Owens of Easley, state Representative Phillip Bowers of Six Mile, State Senator Rex Rice of Easley, and Ted Creech, Director of Government Affairs for the South Carolina Highway Patrol. (Photo courtesy of Larry Martin to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Below is the resolution in its entirety.
A concurrent RESOLUTION
TO request the Department of Transportation name the intersection of South Carolina Highway 153 and UNITED STATES Highway 123 in Pickens County “Senator Larry A. Martin Intersection” and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.
Whereas, the consummate public servant, former State Senator Larry A. Martin has spent his entire life putting the needs and welfare of others first. He was the youngest member of the South Carolina House of Representatives for six years, and his thirty-eight years of total service in the General Assembly is a record for any member from Pickens County whose constituents he served; and
Whereas, born in Greenville to Edgar M. and Lois B. Martin on June 20, 1957, Martin graduated from Pickens High School and attended Tri-County Technical College. He married Susan Lynn Evatt in 1983 and together they raised three children. He retired from Alice Manufacturing in 2018 with thirty-six years of service. Martin attends Pickens First Baptist Church where he has served as deacon, church moderator, and Sunday School teacher; and
Whereas, Martin served in the House of Representatives for fourteen years from 1979 to 1992, then transitioned to the Senate, where he served from 1993 to 2017. He was a leader in enacting tougher domestic violence laws, ethics reform, tort reform, stronger DUI laws, and more executive control of state agencies. He is believed to have been the only non-lawyer to serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and
Whereas, his years in the House were marked with tenure on the Economic Development Commission of the Southern Legislative Conference, and he was a leading member of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. He was listed in Outstanding Men of America for 1979, in Who’s Who in American Politics for 1981-82 and 1983-84, and in Personalities of the South for 1982-83; and
Whereas, Martin continued his outstanding level of constituent service as a member of the Senate beginning in 1993. During his more than two decades in this body he was honored as the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Public Servant of the Year in 2002, Legislator of the Year by the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina in 2004, Legislator of the Year for the Senate by the South Carolina Human Services Providers Association in 2005, and South Carolina Commission for the Blind Legislator of the Year in 2006. He also was named “Mental Health Champion” in 2006 by the National Alliance of Mental Illness; and
Whereas, among his many other accolades are the 2006 “Conservation Champion” award from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance “Defender of Manufacturing 2007” award, the Fraternal Order of Police “2007 Senator of the Year,” the Home Builders Association of South Carolina “2008 Hammer and Trowel Award,” special recognition of service by the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 2008, and South Carolina REALTORS “2009 Legislator of the Year” award; and
Whereas, in 2011 Martin was honored as the South Carolina Education Association “Friend of Education.” In 2013 he was the MADD Legislator of the Year, South Carolina Sheriff’s Association Legislator of the Year, and Behavior Health Services Legislator of the Year. He received the United Way “South Carolina Common Good” award for volunteerism in 2014. He was bestowed the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor in 2016 by Governor Nikki Haley. The South Carolina Victim Assistance Network Public Service award for combatting domestic violence also came in 2016. He was named Public Servant of the Year, Upstate Forever in 2017, and the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce honored him with the 2017 Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award; and
Whereas, Martin’s community service involvement included a stint as president of the Pickens County United Way, chairman of the Governor’s School-to-Work Council (1997-99), and a member of the Pickens First National Bank advisory committee. In retirement he serves on the Prisma Health Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation Board, the Pickens County Cancer Society Board, and the Pickens County advisory board for Upstate Warriors Solution; and
Whereas, it is only fitting and proper that Larry A. Martin, a native son who has devoted his life to God, family, community, and the State be recognized by having an intersection in Pickens County named in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Department of Transportation name the intersection of South Carolina Highway 153 and United States Highway 123 in Pickens County “Senator Larry A. Martin Intersection” and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing these words.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.