Chilton County Probate Judge Bobby Martin, a longtime member of the Alabama Eye Bank board of trustees, was honored recently for his service to AEB at the annual meeting of the Alabama Probate Judges Association. Martin retired from the board effective July 1.

“Judge Martin has meant so much to the Eye Bank’s mission and work. We have been privileged to have him serve with us. His commitment to ensuring the gift of sight is available to everyone who needs it has been admirable,” AEB president and CEO Doyce Williams said.

AEB Chief of Administration Teresa Ham presented Martin with an inscribed clock, telling the judges at the annual meeting that Martin was well known as “a hard worker with a 110 percent attitude.” Martin has been a probate judge for 22 years and served as a funeral director and embalmer at Martin Funeral Home in Clanton for 44 years.

Martin has served his hometown of Clanton in many ways over the years. He was a Clanton city councilman for 16 years, member and past president of the Lions Club, a member of the Gideons, Alabama Probate Judges Association and National College of Probate Judges. He also served as chairman of the local Red Cross Board. He was The Clanton Advertiser‘s Citizen of the Year in 2004.

AEB is a nonprofit charitable organization and one of the most prolific eye banks in the world in tissue recovered, remaining in the top 10 for more than 30 years. In 2007 the company began Global Sight Network, a network of partner eye banks, dedicated to sending specially formulated corneas worldwide.

On Aug. 1, AEB started Precision Corneal Graft, a company that prepares customized corneas for transplant. The Eye Bank’s headquarters is in Birmingham with regional offices in Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery.