Stan Martin

SSI Hall Of Fame: 2005

Why He’s On the List:

  • Leading crusader in false alarm issues
  • Spearheaded model states/cities studies, model ordinances for alarm response
  • Helped establish National Training School (NTS) in Texas
  • Organized National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) Chartered States Program
  • Instrumental in mounting campaign against Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs)

Something People Might Not Know: Was a 16-year-old disc jockey for a West Virginia radio station when the Silver Bridge collapsed over the Ohio River. The only person on duty when Mutual Broadcasting Network called for the story, Martin provided details broadcast nationwide on thousands of stations.

Most Memorable Moment: “After more than a year of intense lobbying, letter-writing to Congress, meetings with legislators and committee chairs, we were able to convince key members of Congress that the RBOCs would compete unfairly with the alarm industry. At that moment I knew our small industry had brought a giant to its knees – all the efforts of hundreds of small, medium and a few large dealers had paid off! It was a turning point for our industry.”

How Things Have Changed: “Technology has helped us communicate faster, more accurately and with more information. But users are still causing false alarms. People are in too much of a hurry to get trained. We still have to install systems one at a time. Unbelievably, we still manually communicate most alarms to the police.”

What the Future Holds: “We need to continue to raise the bar and require more training/education. More companies need to take responsibility for their installations and service. As an industry, we need to reduce the alarm calls for service to police to the lowest level possible. I believe we’re going to need more standards for equipment, operations and installations.”

Reaction to Being Inducted: “I truly believe God has given me every gift/talent I have – there is nothing special about me. My life has just been blessed! To be associated or considered as a peer with the others selected would be an honor; to be selected leaves me at a place without words. This industry has given me so much and I have given so little. Thank you.”

Career Highlights:

  • From 1969-1973, served in U.S. Air Force as radar repairman, including two Vietnam tours
  • Applications engineer in hybrid microelectronics for Rockwell Int’l from 1973-76
  • In 1975, launched cable security company RMS Systems Inc.; grew it to $1.3 million business before selling to Chubb Security Systems (1990)
  • Grew Chubb from $1.3 million to $5 million by 1993 while also serving as executive director of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA)
  • Named ADI vice president of industry relations in 1993, left in 2001
  • National director of the Alarm Industry Research and Education Foundation (AIREF), 1996-2002
  • Became SIAC’s executive director in 2002

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