John Martin Motter, Sr. of Homewood at Crumland Farms, Frederick, Maryland where he resided since 2000, died Sunday February 3, 2013. He was 91 yrs old. Mr. Motter was a well-known and respected local Frederick businessman. He was the husband of Vivienne Nestor Motter who predeceased him August 13, 1990, and the brother of Guy K. Motter, Jr. also deceased. Born September 22, 1921 in Frederick, he was the son of Guy Kunkel and Ella Johnson Motter. Guy Motter was an attorney and the Postmaster of Frederick for many years. John Motter was a graduate of Frederick High School class of 1940 and attended the University of Maryland. He was active in sports, including sand-lot football (before it officially came to Frederick High School) and the school track team. He was a member of the 880 relay team which won the state championship at the Fifth Regiment Armory and was also on the 660 relay team which set a record in 1938-1939 which was never bettered (the race has been discontinued). His relay teammates were S. Hayes Kline, Robert Davis, James McComb and Robert Rothenhoefer (former States Attorney for Frederick County). In 1946, Mr. Motter joined the William J. Burns Detective Agency in Houston, Texas where he was an investigator and then promoted to assistant manager of the Denver, Colorado office. In 1950, he returned to Maryland as a state parole and probation officer for Kent, Queen Anne, Cecil, Caroline and Talbot counties. In 1959 he was promoted to District Supervisor in charge of the Eastern Shore. Mr. Motter returned to Frederick in 1960 and rejoined the Credit Bureau of Frederick, now known as CBF Business Solutions, Inc., which had been established by his in-laws Cecilia and Joseph Nestor in 1931. He devoted most of his time to marketing and was very active in its trade associations, including the American Collections Association and Associated Credit Bureaus (ACB). He served on national credit reporting and collection service committees of ACB for 16 years, and in 1970 the Credit Bureau won international recognition by ACB for its exemplary service to the community and the credit bureau industry. He instructed at many ACB Management Institutes and seminars. In 1968, he organized the 14 credit bureaus in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia into an association and served as its first president. The following year he was elected Secretary-Treasurer and served in this capacity until its dissolution in 1996. Mr. Motter served as President of Northeastern Credit Bureaus in 1987-88. This was an association of 200 credit bureaus located in West Virginia, Virginia and throughout the Northeast including New England. He served as Frederick County chairman of the 1969 Easter Seal Campaign, and was active in many other community organizations. As a resident of the Homewood Community he served on the Library and Food Committees, and the Resident Council. Mr. Motter was a trustee of the Historical Society of Frederick County, a life member of BPO Elks Lodge 684, a member of Moose Lodge #371, American Legion, Past President of the Cotillion Club and the Catoctin Club. He was a past Secretary and long-time director of the Frederick Rotary Club where he was also a Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Motter was a member of Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ. His interests included hunting, photography and landscape water color and pastels, traveling with The Frederick Travel Club and following the Baltimore Colts (and now Baltimore Ravens). He enjoyed relaxing at his cottage in Public Landing on the Eastern Shore. Surviving are three children, Nancy Motter Thrasher and husband William of Frederick, Margaret Motter Hammond of Gettysburg, PA, and John M. Motter, Jr. and wife Cynthia of Ft. Myers, FL; seven grandchildren, Michele Thrasher Inderrieden (Chuck), Gregory Thrasher (Timika), Matthew Thrasher (Angelina), Brigette Hammond Viands (Jerry), John M. Hammond (Robin), Joseph Hammond (Rebecca), Jasen Ian Motter (Jennifer); 13 great-grandchildren: Travis Conder (Amy); Shamira Thrasher; Katee Trout (of Anchorage, Alaska); Alison and Jacob Inderrieden; Caleb, Joshua and Mason Hammond; Taylor Hammond; Zachary Motter; Guy Thrasher; Gregory M. and Rogyn Thrasher; 4 bonus great-grandchildren: Alexis Hott; Gabby and Ryan Benson; Robby Viands; 2 great great-grandchildren: Micah Conder and Mayelin Garcia; 1 nephew: Guy Edward Motter of Citrus Heights, CA, and several cousins; and friends and staff at Homewood where he resided since it's opening. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Rotary Club of Frederick's 21st Century Trust held at the Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701 or Homewood Foundation at Homewood Crumland Farms, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, MD 21702. Friends will be received at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick on Friday, February 8, 2013 from 12 Noon to 1 p.m. Services will be held in the Etchison Memorial Chapel of the funeral home at 1 p.m. immediately following visitation. The Rev. Timothy S. May, Sr. will officiate. Interment will be private. Please view and sign the family guest book by going to www.keeneybasford.com.
