After a half century of serving on a variety of village committees and groups, including the village zoning and planning boards, Martin Sennett, in 1986, decided to run for Mayor of Marcellus. Perhaps no one was more prepared for the position than was Martin Sennett, a lifetime resident of the village and one who took such an interest in the place of his birth that he was often referred to, by his contemporaries, as “Mr. Mayor.” Martin Sennett was born in Marcellus in 1918, was raised in the village, graduated from Marcellus High School in 1935, went off to World War II with the Engineers in the China-India-Burma Theater, came back to Marcellus after the war, married a local girl, Dorothy Kelly, raised five children, co-founded and then retired from a food brokerage firm. During all that time, he never lost interest in serving his hometown. A remarkable leader who resolved many issues that had developed before and during his years in office, Marty Sennett was also emblematic of many Marcellians, and an illustrative example of his, the “greatest generation.” Before his election as Mayor, Marty Sennett had been a business executive and had served for years on the village zoning and planning boards as well as chairman of a variety of committees examining village issues. When he was elected Mayor in 1986, only one of two Democrats to serve in that position in the history of the village, Sennett and his administration had to confront a financial crisis and this, was faced head-on — which was typical of this no-nonsense, direct and uncompromisingly honest man. In dealing with Martin Sennett, being open and frank were hallmarks of his character — he was totally lacking in guile and you always knew where you stood with Martin Sennett. Soon, he was able to pull the village out of its fiscal emergency and he continued, for the next eight (8) years, to address village concerns, able to secure funds for storm drains, sidewalks and curbing on Main Street, as well as upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. His appointment of a “Beautification Committee,” headed by Deborah Kelley, led to the planting of flower boxes and trees, the refurbishing of the Veterans’ Monument and village flagpole, seasonal “clean-up” days, and group-sponsored beautification activities that still occur every spring and summer in the village. During his administration, a noise ordinance was passed in the Village, fluoride was first added to the village reservoir, the Zoning Ordinance of 1972 was strengthened, as was the trash and garbage ordinance, the municipal parking lot off West Main Street was reconstructed and enlarged, and the first woman was appointed to the village police department. When he ran for a second term in 1990, his running mate was Barbara Bishop, the first woman to be elected to the position of trustee in village history. There was also some significant construction during Martin Sennett’s terms as mayor, including the building of the new fire hall on Slate Hill Road, new townhouse apartments on North Street (after a disastrous fire two years earlier), as well as the fulfillment of one his main goals when he took office — the construction of senior citizen housing in the village. There were also some controversial issues that occurred during Sennett’s terms in office, including a clash between A & H Wholesale Supply and its residential neighbors on Paul Street, as well as the closing of the Lower Crown Mill and the small shops that had developed at that site, over code violations. From a personal point of view, I came to view Martin Sennett as an adviser, a teacher and a friend. Although I have known Martin for a great many years (he was also a first cousin to my mother-in-law), it was in 1995, when I first became a trustee of the village, that I came to appreciate his counsel, how valuable it was and would continue to be. For me, as an inexperienced village official, Martin’s advice was not only significant and constructive, but of immense historic value. Much that was not recorded in the history books of the community, Martin knew first hand. Martin provided me the inspiration to write two books on the history of the village of Marcellus, and I like to think of them as a tribute to his memory. Martin Sennett chose not to run again for Mayor in 1994, but he left a legacy that future officials of the village as well as future residents of the valley would find invaluable. In Martin Sennett, we witnessed, once again, the emergence of an individual who represented all that Marcellus has come to value throughout its history — one whose steady hand and constant presence helped to guide and lead — a citizen who gave tirelessly of himself, in the spirit of the community where he was born and raised, and of which, he was so justly proud. I am so very pleased to have been his friend and relish the memory of those times when we were able to share our love and concern for the village so many consider “a welcome home.”