As you as have probably have heard, Terry Martin passed away recently .

I got to know Terry back in1975, when he hired me as a shaper and an airbrush artist at Hobie Surfboards.

I worked for a few years at Hobie, and in 1977 I went independent and started my own label.

The business grew and in the mid ’90s, Hobie asked if I wanted to do the manufacturing of Hobie Surfboards. I called Terry and hired him as a shaper, along with Phil Edwards. We also began building boards for Mickey Munoz and Herbie Fletcher. Terry worked at Stewart Surfboards for about 14 years. He was a great employee. Every morning, when I got to the shop, Terry would already have six or eight boards finished. I nicknamed him“Terry the Foam Fairy” because I could never figure out how he had all those done so early – as if he had some kind of magic planer. I could see why folks spoke of him as the human shaping machine.

Terry always had time for anybody, and used any opportunity to share his stories or knowledge. He always had a smile and never said anything bad about anyone. He was the kind of guy would give you the shirt off his back.

I named my shaping style the “Martin Method” because all the great techniques he taught me. Terry was a generous man who loved to share his shaping knowledge with anybody who had an interest.

He is one of the most unique people I’ve ever known. We will all miss him.

- Bill Stewart