a politi Tommy Foy “From our prisoner of war camp in Roca Rochi,
Bob Martin confided his decision to retire from the
Japan, I saw the smoke from the burning cities of
State House of Representatives. “I made a lot of
Hiroshima, and three days later, Nagasaki. We had
friends on both sides of the aisle over the years,
been told that if the Americans tried to land, we would
which was important for passing needed legislation.”
be executed.
Tommy chaired the Judiciary Committee for 16 years,
Many of the New Mexicans who survived the
and was appointed to the National Conference of
horrors of the Bataan Death March returned to fill
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1987. When
leadership roles for their state. Grant County’s Tommy
he left the legislature in 1998, a bill was passed
Foy received his battlefield commission on January
allowing him to continue on the committee.
19, 1942. He came home upon his release by the
The Lions’ Club has been Tommy’s venue for
Japanese to continue his law practice, to launch his
community service. He is the last remaining charter
illustrious careers in banking and politics, and to raise
member of the Bayard club, and has an impressive
a family, who continue to move the community.
record of 60 years of perfect attendance.
“The mining district was in need of a bank in
On the personal side, Tommy proposed to Joan
1946,” Tommy says, and he drew up the papers
Carney in Deming, during November, 1945. This was
establishing the Grant County State Bank. He became
their first meeting after the war. Did she
one of its first officers, and served as Chair of the
immediately succumb to the young war hero?
Board for fourteen years.
Tommy laughs, “She thought I was crazy. We didn’t
Tommy leaped into state politics in 1970, when
get married until November 17, 1948.” Tommy and
Foy served 28 years in
36– SILVER CITYLIFE