October 8 would have marked the 102nd birthday of John D. Martin, a longtime respected member of the Custer County community. Although we lost him in his 90s, John will be remembered always by many of my generation as a friend and mentor. I first met John when I was around 10 years old, walking on a mountain property of John’s with my Dad and me. My father was a land surveyor, and he and John had become good friends and professional colleagues. When my family moved to Westcliffe in the 1970s we discovered that John and his wife were soon to start a business here as well. Our family friendship grew, and I came to know John more and more. John was a WW2…