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WHEREAS, George “Mr. Entertainment” Martin was born in Millvale on February 2nd, 1928, into a family with six brothers and sisters. George has been a longtime resident of and small-business owner in Pittsburgh’s Northside, where he has also spent 68 years as a member of Allegheny Lodge No. 339 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and,
WHEREAS, George has always been involved in entertainment, from music to theatre. During his service in the U.S. Army, George “wielded a trumpet instead of weapons,” and he has always been an avid showman; and,
WHEREAS, George spent two years at Carnegie Tech and upon his graduation, he worked as an independent interior designer. His sense of fashion later led him to the men’s furnishings department at Kaufmann’s in Downtown Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, George left his job at Kaufmann’s when he realized his passion for owning bars where he could entertain his patrons as both a host and an emcee. George experienced great success in three bars he owned in his lifetime, but he also continued to bartend at the Elks Lodge, where he has volunteered as a bartender since the 1960s and where he continues to pull a regular shift on Lodge Member nights on most Fridays and Saturdays, making him likely the oldest regularly scheduled bartender in the Pittsburgh area; and,
WHEREAS, George is currently the Chaplain of Allegheny Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Past Exalted Ruler (equivalent to Board President). He spent four decades as entertainment chairman, booking concerts and shows for Lodge members, adding further reason for his nickname, “Mr. Entertainment”; and,
WHEREAS, on February 2nd, 2019, George celebrated by tending bar at the Lodge on his 91st birthday. George’s goal during the celebration was to serve 91 drinks: one for each year of George’s life thus far. The celebration drew a large crowd of Elks members, guests, family, friends and well-wishers. God Bless America, led by George, was wonderfully performed multiple times; and,
WHEREAS, George’s new birthday tradition will be to tend bar at Allegheny Elks Lodge No. 339 every year on his birthday, serving as many drinks as the number of years he has lived, as long as he is up to the task; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend George Martin for his many years of dedication to the entertainment and happiness of his customers and fellow Elks. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh looks forward to future celebrations of George “Mr. Entertainment” Martin’s birthdays, and wishes him many more years of happiness doing what he loves to do; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh declares Saturday, February 2nd, 2019 to Saturday, February 9th, 2019 to be George “Mr. Entertainment” Martin Week in the City of Pittsburgh.