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2005 PARADE GRAND MARSHAL

Chief Stephen P. Martin

Chief Martin was born and raised in Newport, one of five children of Esther Anderson Martin and the late Frank Martin. He grew up on Hammond Street in Newport’s Fifth Ward and attended Rogers High School, graduating in 1971. He earned an Associates Degree in Construction Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, graduating in 1974. In 1990 he received his Associates Degree in Fire Science from Bristol Community College in Fall River.

In 1981 Steve married the former Mary Whitford, also of Newport.  They have been blessed with two sons, John and David.  John is a Culinary Arts student at Johnson and Wales University, and David is a junior at Portsmouth High School.

Steve joined the Middletown Fire Department as a Firefighter in 1981. He has served on the International Association of Firefighters Executive Board, Local 1933. In 1998 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Steve succeeded David Carlisle as Middletown’s Fire Chief in 2003. In addition to his duties at the department, Steve is an Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshall for the State of Rhode Island and is the Emergency Management Director for the town of Middletown. He is also a member of the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Association.

A member of the Dennis E. Collins Division 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, since 1976, Steve serves as the Recording Secretary, a position he has held for the past four years. Throughout the recent renovations of the Hibernian Hall, Steve has volunteered many hours as a carpenter and served on the Renovations Supervisory Committee.

Steve has been a very active member of Gooseberry Beach, serving two three year terms on the Beach’s Board of Directors and currently serving as President of the beach. He is also extremely active in Portsmouth Babe Ruth, both as a coach and as a grounds keeper. He is a member of the Portsmouth High School’s Booster Club and the Portsmouth Hockey Association.