OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 2016 | Graduation Year: 1983

Melissa ‘Missy’ Martin was born in Springfield, Ohio to Donald and Elaine Martin.  She grew up outside New Carlisle near Donnelsville, Ohio with her four siblings, all older brothers.  She hails from an athletic family where her parents played basketball and tennis and she and her siblings all grew up playing baseball, softball, tennis and basketball.  Missy credits her parents for always encouraging and supporting her whether it was by shoveling snow off the drive way to practice free throws or leaving a plate for dinner after late practices.  They were always in the crowd cheering her on. Missy started playing softball at an early age, coming up through the Donnelsville leagues.  She got her first chance of playing organized basketball in 8th grade at Olive Branch Jr High where she averaged 14 points per game.  After 9th grade at Olive Branch Jr High, the last graduating class of the school, she went on to Tecumseh High School where she lettered in three sports, playing at the varsity level for tennis, basketball and softball.   

She earned All Miami Central Conference (MCC) – Honorable Mention in basketball her sophomore year.  In her junior year, hard work started to pay off and the team finished with a winning record of 11 – 9 (MCC 6 – 3) for the season.  Missy earned All MCC 1st Team and All Clark County honors that year.  

During Missy’s senior year at Tecumseh, she helped lead the team to a 13 – 8 record and 2nd Place in the Greater Miami Valley Conference (GMVC 10 - 4), the best finish in Lady Arrows basketball history at the time. Missy’s accomplishments included All GMVC 1st Team – Player of the Year, All Clark County, District 9 All Star, Player of the Week – Springfield News-Sun, and McDonald’s All-Ohio Girls’ High School Basketball Team nominee.  She served as Captain for both the tennis and basketball teams and earned Most Valuable Player in tennis, basketball and softball (Defensive).  As well as placing 2nd in 1st Doubles and District Qualifier for tennis and made 3rd Team All GMVC for softball.  She thanks her coaches, Carla Beatley, Barb Nagel and Louise Michels for all their support and encouragement to become the best student-athlete she could be.  Her teammates, friends and teachers also made her years at Tecumseh some of the best days of her life.

Missy also excelled off the playing field where she was Treasurer of National Honor Society, Student Advisory Council, Sports Co-Editor of The Arrowhead, Quill & Scroll, AFS, December Rotary Student of the Month and Who’s Who Among American High School Students.  She graduated in the top 5% of her class.  Missy graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1983 and earned the Ron W. Manemann and James and Barbara Gastineau Scholarships.

Missy graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics and was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon honor society.  She stayed active by playing for the EKU Womens’ Soccer club and intramural sports such as flag football and softball.  She also has played on several softball travelling teams, competing in the Bluegrass State Games and several National Tournaments in Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada.

After graduating, she was a lead software developer for a small software company out of Lexington, Kentucky where she traveled to all but 12 of the 50 states.  She then moved to Atlanta in 1997 where she worked as a network administrator at Turner Field for the Atlanta Braves.  She worked four seasons, which included three National League Championship Series, the 1999 World Series and the 2000 All Star Game.

Missy is currently a software solution architect for a national retail technology company.  She has excelled professionally by earning a President’s Award, a Star Academy nominee, and a Best of the Best Award based on winning concepts for Store Fulfillment and Mobile Innovations.

“Many life lessons can be learned from playing sports – hard work and determination are what will carry you through life” Missy states.  Missy credits her parents and coaches for molding her into the successful, strong woman that she is today.  Many, many thanks for all the support and love that her family, friends, teammates and teachers have provided.