Hutch Martin '98
Written April 2016
When Harding’s annual golf classic tees off in October, it will do so as the newly minted “G. Alexander Martin Memorial” tournament, a fundraiser that will support scholarships for students. The new name honors the late brother of Alumni Board member Hutch Martin ’98—a boy Hutch describes as having been a talented young golfer and an overall “sports fiend.” Hutch says he feels “very humbled” by this honor for Alexander, saying the event is “a way for his memory to live on.”
This kind of consideration for the Martin family only reaffirms for Hutch the essential nature of the Harding community. He explains that his brother, a fourth grader, collapsed in the Harding gymnasium in 2000, suffering a heart attack due to a congenital heart defect. When faced with the difficult task of supporting both Alexander’s stricken classmates, who had witnessed the tragedy, and the grieving Martin family, Harding’s teachers responded with a perfect blend of generosity, empathy, and love. The rest of the Harding community rallied too, and parents of Alexander’s classmates even held a memorial golf event that ran for a few years afterward. Hutch says that for all of these reasons, Harding “holds a very special place in my heart.”
Hutch’s professional work has included operations and logistics consulting, especially for political campaigns and entrepreneurial ventures. While he credits fifth grade teacher Peggy Bidez with helping him to become a better speaker and writer, he believes that Harding was about more than education and preparation for high school, college, and career. He says, “One of the most important things that I gained from Harding were the connections. I’m still close friends with a lot of my classmates. These people are still a part of my life.”
Hutch has kept close to his school and classmates by taking on various volunteer roles at Harding. In addition to serving on the Alumni Board, he has been a class representative for various fundraising efforts, and he occasionally reads to Patti Wright’s kindergarten class. (Notably, Hutch’s first instance of giving back to the community was just a year after his brother’s death. He spearheaded efforts to equip the school with Automated External Defibrillators—AEDs—a safety precaution that is now quite common in schools but that was unusual at the time.)
Beyond Harding, Hutch has been active in various kinds of service to the Nashville community. A main focus is helping children who are impoverished or developmentally challenged. A tutor at the Preston Taylor Ministries, he also participates in the Best Buddies program, which enriches social and recreational opportunities for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Why help children in particular? “Because not all children are afforded the incredible opportunity to learn and grow, both in and out of the classroom, that Harding nurtures,” says Hutch. “Current students aren’t thinking about this right now, but I hope they know that they’ll always be able to count on the Harding community.”
Back
This kind of consideration for the Martin family only reaffirms for Hutch the essential nature of the Harding community. He explains that his brother, a fourth grader, collapsed in the Harding gymnasium in 2000, suffering a heart attack due to a congenital heart defect. When faced with the difficult task of supporting both Alexander’s stricken classmates, who had witnessed the tragedy, and the grieving Martin family, Harding’s teachers responded with a perfect blend of generosity, empathy, and love. The rest of the Harding community rallied too, and parents of Alexander’s classmates even held a memorial golf event that ran for a few years afterward. Hutch says that for all of these reasons, Harding “holds a very special place in my heart.”
Hutch’s professional work has included operations and logistics consulting, especially for political campaigns and entrepreneurial ventures. While he credits fifth grade teacher Peggy Bidez with helping him to become a better speaker and writer, he believes that Harding was about more than education and preparation for high school, college, and career. He says, “One of the most important things that I gained from Harding were the connections. I’m still close friends with a lot of my classmates. These people are still a part of my life.”
Hutch has kept close to his school and classmates by taking on various volunteer roles at Harding. In addition to serving on the Alumni Board, he has been a class representative for various fundraising efforts, and he occasionally reads to Patti Wright’s kindergarten class. (Notably, Hutch’s first instance of giving back to the community was just a year after his brother’s death. He spearheaded efforts to equip the school with Automated External Defibrillators—AEDs—a safety precaution that is now quite common in schools but that was unusual at the time.)
Beyond Harding, Hutch has been active in various kinds of service to the Nashville community. A main focus is helping children who are impoverished or developmentally challenged. A tutor at the Preston Taylor Ministries, he also participates in the Best Buddies program, which enriches social and recreational opportunities for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Why help children in particular? “Because not all children are afforded the incredible opportunity to learn and grow, both in and out of the classroom, that Harding nurtures,” says Hutch. “Current students aren’t thinking about this right now, but I hope they know that they’ll always be able to count on the Harding community.”
Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit