Forever Wild: The James D. Martin Story (2020)

In the closing days of World War II, James (Jim) Martin was one of the first Americans to discover a Nazi concentration camp and observe the worst of what man can do to his fellow man. The next day he served as a guide for Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and other top U.S. generals who wanted to see the camp. These are some of the first details we learn about Martin's life in a documentary produced by Longleaf Studios at Jacksonville State University for Alabama Public Television. Forever Wild, The James D. Martin Story is a revealing portrait of Martin's life, his work in politics, and his achievements as director of Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Martin pressed oil companies to pay fair royalties to the state for oil pumped from Alabama coastal waters, fought to preserve the coastal boundaries, and founded Alabama's Forever Wild program to preserve wild areas for everyone to enjoy.