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Marty Cox was born on November 30, 1957 and died on May 31, 2005. I do not have his obituary to include here but as many of you know he died of a heart attack while performing CPR on his father. The article below is from a local news report.
SENECA, S.C. - A son trying to save his father from a heart attack died when his heart failed after he couldn't resuscitate his dad.
Carlton Cox, 75, was taking a break from tending to his tomato plants when he had a heart attack Tuesday. His 47-year-old son Marty Cox was sitting beside him and called 911 before trying to save his father's life, according to the family.
After Marty Cox became aware his father couldn't be brought back to life, he called his oldest brother, Terry Cox. Then Marty Cox, the son that never left home, went into cardiac arrest himself.
Now father and son will be buried together Thursday afternoon in Walhalla.
"Marty was real close to Dad," Terry Cox said. "He tried to save his life. And then he saw him die. It was just too much for him. Marty gave his life trying to save Dad's. That makes him a hero in my book."
Carlton Cox worked for two decades at the Clemson University Police Department. But his first love remained farming, and Carlton Cox and his wife Ruth Terry raised their three sons on their Oconee County farm.
"Dad did what he could for his neighbors and his friends," Terry Cox said. "He always shared with people that needed it."
The whole family helped out, even after the boys were adults, Terry Cox said.
Carlton Cox loved growing tomatoes, at one time raising more than 5,000 plants to sell and give away. Fellow officers at the police department would come by to help in the fields, his son said.
Marty Cox had started helping his dad more since he recently lost his job when the nearby WestPoint Stevens plant closed.
"We were always a close family," he said. "I guess it was the way we were raised. There was never any fussing or fighting in the house. Because we respected Dad, we wanted to be like him."
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Robert B. Nichols (1976)
I'll never forget Marty Cox. I remember one football practice in particular. Marty was lined up in front of me as I practiced centering the ball to S’Coach Golden. Prior to each snap the s’coach and I would huddle-up and he would give me the count to snap the ball and the blocking assignment. After doing this for numerous plays with the snap count “on 1”, the s’coach changed the count to “on 2”. I lined-up in front of Marty and the s’coach called out, “set, hut 1 . . .” and before he could say “hut 2”, Marty’s right forearm had already began its motion straight for my forehead. He knocked me over backwards and as I flipped my cleat caught and cut S’Coach Golden’s thigh and I was out cold for several minutes. Marty felt so bad about it and kept saying he was sorry all practice. Under his rough façade, he was very warm hearted.Tommy Wood (1978)
I can relate to Marty's forearm. It gave me headaches after many a football practice.Tony Moore (1976)
My earliest recollection of Marty is 5th grade at Southside Elementary with Mrs. Frances Culp. He possessed a memorable personality ... the perfect mixture of jovial and mischievous! We shared many laughs together through the years. In later years, because I was employed by Winn Dixie, I was able to see him fairly often as he struggled with a back injury and the resulting disabilty. I miss his friendship, punctuated as it was with his perennial smile and twinkling blue eyes!Roger Cox '83
Hello all SHS Class of 76. I am the younger brother of Marty and sure appreciate seeing comments and reflections from his friends. I was glad that Bill Lee offered me the opportunity to be a part of your web page as a member guest (bottom of page under class years). My own class of 83 lost members to death and I thought how I would like to speak with some of their family members about them to help deal with the loss. That is why I ask to set up on this web page to be able to help cope with the loss and "missing member" of the class chain.I look forward to future messages and meeting many of you if you would like.
Best Regards,
Roger Cox '83
Billy Lee (1976)
My earliest memory of Marty was in the first grade at Southside Elementary School. He used to pass one of those small footballs with me. He never made fun of me no matter how poorly I threw it. Then later in the 5th grade I remember how he and Stanly Black would sit in the back of Mrs. Parrott's Class and amaze the class with their knowledge of the "times tables". Then, in high school, he was so much fun to be around whether it was in Mr. Stevenson's Algebra class or Mrs. Dillard's Spanish class. He always had his smile "Turned on" and to my knowledge he never said a bad thing about anyone. Although we both loved to mock certain teachers behind their back! Hey, we were kids, right? He signed my annual one year with the advice to "not take any plug or wooden nickles." Good advice Marty! I miss you big guy!Steven R. Terry (1976)
We were first cousins and that was not just geneological order. Marty was my closest cousin in all aspects. We were either at Ruth and Carlton's, Marty's parents, house or on our Aunt Hazel's farm, just below Marty's house, more than at my own home. We roamed the 100 plus acre 'working farm" hunting any animal or bird that dared show it's face didn't matter what was in season or not. We started with BB guns and moved up to shotguns when we were about eight years old. We set Bobby Bowen's pasture on fire one Halloween with fireworks, ouch I remember the whipping I got.Playing football in the yard with Marty was challenging to say the least. I could jump on his back but he would just keep going as if I was a fly. I don't know what my parents were doing all those weekends and summer weeks that I spent on the farm and sure didn't care at the time but now I wonder?? Were they on some exotic vacation? Probably not!! We grew up during a very special and probably never seen again atmosphere in rural SC. I am so glad to have had the freedom we enjoyed in a much simpler time.
I have so many memories of Marty there is no way to list even a portion but let me tell you one. When West Point Stevens, where Marty worked for several years,was shutting down WYFF was at the plant interviewing people as they left. Truly there was some sad stories, but when they asked Marty how he felt about it he said " I hear the fishing is good down on the Gulf about now and I guess I will head down there". NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN THINKING THAT!!
Let me say the one memory that haunts me to this day about several loved ones who have gone and surely about Marty is that I didn't spend more time with them as I got older. They sometimes go so unexpected that it will take a lifetime to get past the loss. We all need to slow down and enjoy all aspects of life. As long as I live Marty will never be forgotten!!!!
Charles Jennings (1975)
I think About Marty everytime it rains. Marty fell on my ankle during football practice. Now everytime it rains the arthritis in my ankle flairs up. I call it my visit from Marty. He was a great guy. Funny too!