Martin Maher

Who was Martin Maher?

Martin "Marty" Maher, Jr. was an Irish immigrant from Ballycrine near Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, who joined the United States Army in 1898 and rose to the rank of master sergeant. He served as a revered and beloved swimming instructor at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, from 1899 to 1928, and was featured as the central character in the film The Long Gray Line, starring Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara.

Maher retired from the Army in 1928 and stayed at West Point as a civil service employee in the athletic department and retired from that in 1946, completing 50 years of service at "The Point". Maher was named an honorary member of the classes of 1912, 1926 and 1928. His autobiography, Bringing Up The Brass: My 55 Years at West Point, co-written by Nardi Reeder Campion, was published in 1951 by David McKay Company Inc. and was the source of the film.

Maher died on 17 January 1961, at the age of 84 and is buried in the West Point Cemetery.