Dicky Martin’s voice rang out all over Ashland on the radio for five decades and his death leaves an irreplaceable hole in the Tomcats’ heart.

His family wants that voice to continue in a tangible way through a memorial scholarship. Dicky loved his Tomcats when they were playing and remembered them years later after they had hung up their jersey. He did more for Ashland students than anyone will ever know, putting them on a pedestal long after their playing days.

The Dicky Martin Memorial Scholarship will be a way to say thank you to him for the memorable moments and thrilling calls he gave Ashland fans for 50 years, not to mention the ways he gave back to the program without anyone ever knowing it.

Donna Suttle is helping the Martin family establish the fund which they hope could be effective by the end of the school year. It would be extended to an Ashland athlete (a particular sport has not been decided).

Suttle manages the Joe Franklin Memorial Scholarship that goes to Tomcat basketball players, the Doug Childers Memorial Scholarship for Tomcat football players and has started the Johnny Mullins Memorial Scholarship that tentatively is going to an Ashland baseball player. The Bill Gammon Scholarship for Tomcat football players is managed through a trust fund established upon his death in 1973.

The Martins are on the ground floor for the latest scholarship opportunity for an Ashland athlete. Guidelines have not been established until some funding has been secured to make sure it has a solid foundation.

What they are asking is for Ashland fans to remember Dicky Martin with a donation to get the scholarship off to a strong start. It is a simple way to say thank you to Dicky for all he did for Tomcat sports. Not only was in the “Voice of the Tomcats” but he essentially was the Tomcat Boosters Club. He did everything he could to make sure Ashland athletes had the very best while representing the Tomcats.

Now his family is asking for help so Dicky’s memory will carry on for decades to come through this scholarship. If you are willing to give, please send a check to Donna Suttles at 1520 Lexington Avenue, Ashland, Ky. 41101. Make the check to: Dicky Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund. You can also Venmo your donation to Whitney Martin.

The family is grateful for the love and compassion shown during his recent passing.

Let’s keep Dicky Martin’s voice alive through this scholarship program.