Thomas Martin

Thomas Hughes Martin, a strong, dedicated athlete, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2017, with his entire family by his side after a long-fought battle with degenerative Multiple Sclerosis. Hughes grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee, the son of Thomas Dean Martin and Dorris Hughes Martin. He was named Thomas after his father but to avoid confusion growing up he went by Hughes, his mother’s maiden name. He had one younger brother, Irving Martin.

Growing up in Gallatin, Tennessee, Hughes participated in many different activities; swimming, boating, water skiing, basketball, high school track and cross-country, and family ski trips in Virginia among the favorites. Hughes also developed a passion for music and playing the drums at a young age. After attending Vanderbilt University with a degree in mechanical engineering, Hughes opted against a desk job to move to Aspen, Colorado, to become a ski instructor, later moving to Telluride to teach and hone his own skiing.  Hughes was a great skier with a love for the outdoors. While in Colorado, he developed a passion for photography, which eventually led him to meeting his wife Judy who also worked in the ski industry.  Judy and Hughes were married for 24 years before separating. Throughout his profession as an action sports photographer, he has had covers published on Runners World, Ski, Skiing, Outside, and Bicycle Magazine. He eventually worked as a real estate agent in Utah, winning the rookie of the year award as well as multiple years as a top producer even after his initial MS diagnosis.

Judy and Hughes had three children: Tommy first, followed by twins, Carter and Madison. Hughes also acted as a proud father to Judy’s first three children Mike, Sarah and Juliet. All six children, were raised in Park City, Utah, where Hughes lived for 25 years before moving to Midway, Utah, for five years. Hughes was an incredible athlete and very active his whole life. On top of being a great skier and kayaker, Hughes was also a very accomplished ultra marathon runner. He ran the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run and the Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run four times each on top of number of different marathons. He has also run rim to rim across the Grand Canyon in under 12 hours.

Hughes is survived by his mother Dorris, father Tom, brother Irving, and all six kids: Mike, Sarah, Juliet, Tommy, Carter, and Madison. Gone from our presence but never from our hearts, Hughes’ memories will always live on. Please join us for a Memorial Celebration at the Wheeler Historic Farm Barn located at 6351 South 900 East, Murray, Utah, on Tuesday April 18, 2017, from noon to 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, run that extra mile or take your family out skiing for a day and make some turns in Hughes’s name!  Please consider making a memorial donation to one of Hughes’s favorite organizations:

Mountain Trails Foundation: hppt://mountaintrails.org/donate/

Historic Rubgy: Historic Rugby.org or Historic Rugby, P.O. Box 8, Rugby, TN 37733

Habitat for Humanity: habitatsumnercounty.org or Habitat For Humanity, P.O. box 516, Gallatin, TN  37066