A Community Foundation Fund has been created to honor Jim & Eva Martens as the 2024 South Central Kentuckians of the Year. This fund will generate a annual grant forever, supporting the ever changing needs in our community. To donate, click on the link below.

Jim was born on August 8, 1950 in Battle Creek, Michigan and was raised on a farm near the community of Bellevue, Michigan by parents Clarence and Beverly Martens and is blessed to have two younger sisters, Susie and Cindy. Their Mom and Dad were hard workers, having lived through the depression. Clarence worked five jobs to make ends meet. Their Mom and Dad always taught them to work hard and be honest—traits that have served their children well throughout life.

After graduating from high school Jim’s intention was to attend Michigan State University, get a degree in Agriculture and get a job with Kellogg’s in Battle Creek upon graduation. But all those plans changed when Jim was encouraged by his High School Industrial Arts teacher Mr. Don Hoebeke, who had graduated from WKU, to visit WKU during his spring break. The people he met at WKU were all wonderful, friendly and welcoming and not at all the “hillbillies” that he had stereotyped. That visit to Western Kentucky University changed his life forever!

Graduating from WKU in 1972, Jim became the first in his family, with a BS in Agriculture. It was time for him pursue his goal and return to Michigan, but he realized that he loved Bowling Green and didn’t want to leave. He never applied to Kellogg’s. After working 15 months as an Agronomist with the KY Highway Department, he was offered an opportunity to sell mobile homes at a dealership. Not exactly his career goal but financially it made sense. Starting with no money, in May 1974 with a bank loan of $2,500, Jim purchased his first mobile home as a rental property. Jim’s mentor had five mobile homes so he set a goal for himself to own ten mobile homes to supplement his income, never dreaming of where it would lead.  Soon he matched his mentor, then he passed him; Jim was on his way! By 1978 Jim had 26 mobile homes and bought his first rental house. In September of 1980 Jim and a partner, former WKU professor Billy Adams, bought Greenwood Estates Mobile Home Community. Since 1985 Jim has been a full time real estate investor, owning apartment complexes, mobile home communities, and office buildings. In 1994, Jim purchased his first shopping center and his focus since 1996 has been on retail shopping centers, with properties in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.

Jim has been blessed with a wonderful family. He married his dear wife, Eva, in 1985. Between them they have four children. Brad Martens, Cassie Turner, Kevin McCoy and Tammy Sheets. All four are graduates of Western Kentucky University. Jim and Eva are also proud grandparents of seven wonderful grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Since November of 1995 Jim and Eva have attended Hillvue Heights Baptist Church. He has served on the Business Administration Team for over 25 years, and served as Chairman since 2002. Jim has been honored to chair a 10 million dollar campaign and Reach Center construction project currently being built on Hillvue’s campus. Serving Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been one of Jim’s greatest joys.

GOD, Bowling Green and WKU have been such a blessing to Jim, Eva and their family. Jim serves his community in other ways as well.

At Western Kentucky University Jim is currently serving on the College Heights Foundation Board, the WKU Real Estate Corporation Board, and WKU Hilltopper Athletic Foundation Board, having served as Chairman. 

Jim also currently serves on the WKU Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board and the Olde Stone Advisory Board.

Jim’s wonderful childhood, as a farm boy in Bellevue, Michigan, built a foundation that has taken him a long way in life.  

Since Jim and Eva came to realize that every good gift that we have is from above, and that God has blessed them with a wonderful family, financial blessings and in so many other ways; they have lived with a legacy goal of sharing with others the Blessings that God has given them and to leave this world in a better place.