08-20-2023 Harford Magazine - Flipbook - Page 50
3 THINGS
BY MIKE KLINGAMAN Harford Magazine
Bill Martin
Mayor of Havre de Grace
He is the fourth-term mayor of Havre
de Grace, a career educator and the father
of three. At 49, Bill Martin is the second
longest-serving mayor in town history, one
charged with the task of turning “a small, quiet
town into a pretty decent tourist destination.
My legacy is to point the city toward the 21st
century.”
Martin grew up in Severna Park, attended
Salisbury State University and then settled in
Harford County where, for 25 years, he has
taught U.S. history at Aberdeen Middle School.
Here are three things you might not know
about Martin:
He is kin to English royalty.
“My grandfather was a British citizen and,
two months ago, we learned that — about 120
years ago — someone in a branch of our family
married a Spencer. It turns out that I’m related
to [the late] princess Diana [Spencer] and
her children. Ever since, when my wife and I
watch ‘The Crown’ on TV, she’ll tell me, ‘Your
cousin [the prince] is acting like a jerk.’”
His life moves in cycles.
“I’m an avid motorcycle rider; at 16, I rode
one to school in my leather jacket. When my
mom passed away in 2001, I bought a new
Harley-Davidson, put a sleeping bag on the
back and took it across the country for six
weeks. The trip was very spiritual.
“After I married in 2003, I sold that bike.
Twelve years later, a friend mentioned that he
knew of a cycle for sale, if I was interested. It
turned out to be my old black-and-white bike,
so I had to have it back.”
This mayor’s mantra: The puck stops
here.
“I’ve played ice hockey since I was 6, and I
still play weeknights in a men’s league in Bel
Air. I like the camaraderie, and the game is a
great stress reliever; whatever attaches itself
to you during the day, you can shake it off that
night. I play defense and I don’t wear a face
mask. I’ve lost a couple of teeth, but I’ve found
that you play at a higher level of alertness
when you don’t wear a mask. And I’ll keep
playing until God says I can’t.”
PHOTO BY KENNETH K. LAM
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| Fall 2023 | harfordmagazine.com
