OJAI : Martin to Retire as Recreation Director
Ojai Recreation Department Director John Martin has announced that he will retire in October from the post that he has held for the past 31 years.
Martin became the city’s recreation director in 1961 and figured prominently in the campaign to build the Ojai Community Center.
He remembers first discussing the gymnasium and recreation center with other city employees in 1962, almost 20 years before it was finally approved by voters and completed.
“My job has always been to provide the public with the sort of activities they want, so this has been fun,” Martin said.
Ojai City Manager Andrew Belknap, who announced Martin’s retirement at a City Council meeting last week, said a search would begin later this year for a successor.
Martin said he plans to continue living in Ojai and stay active in community affairs.
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