Crossroads Ten Most Powerful - #4 Benny Martinez
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If an education is important to anyone, it's Benny Martinez.
The 75-year-old Goliad man dedicates his life the League of United Latin American Citizens, emphasizing education, civil rights and volunteering in your community.
His efforts to advance Latinos are renowned.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT MARTINEZ
He's always a gentleman. He can be authoritative without being rude. - Debra Barker, Goliad Chamber of Commerce
He wants his people to do what's right, but he wants to look out for all the children, no matter where they came from. - Goliad County Judge Harold Gleinser
I wish we could put him in a book and send him to all the schools so all the children could learn from Benny. He has so much he could share. - Joe Garcia, accountant for Victoria’s Texas Workforce Solutions
We all come from God, and Benny really points out the fact that we've all contributed to our development. He's one of the few that has pointed that out. I admire the hell out of that guy. - Frank Ortega, a Houston friend
You can always count on Benny to do what is to be done. He's always willing to give a helping hand. - Emilio T. Vargas, retired Goliad justice of the peace
I think we are very fortunate to have so many mentors in Goliad, Benny Martinez being one of our best and good ones, to show children what can be done. - Mayra Heard, Goliad County Historical Commission
Telling details
What's on his desk? Flags of the U.S. Coast Guard, Army, Navy, and Marines; LULAC folder rack; pictures of Hispanic military men who faced discrimination.
What's in his car? Telephone book, water, First-Aid kit, a few coins.
What does power mean to you? "Power can be something one can use to benefit your community, to benefit people who have been mistreated or discriminated against."
How do you wield power? "I always use the friendly approach to anything I do. I don't go around raising hell or getting angry. You have to show people you have good intentions."
Timeline
1934: Martinez is born in Goliad.
1950s: Returns home from an 18-month tour during the Korean War
1950: Martinez and six Mexican-American friends are arrested and jailed while eating barbecue at a restaurant.
1957: While applying for a job at Rainbow Bread at age 23 in Houston, an employer told Martinez he didn't hire "his kind." This started a boycott among Hispanics.
1985: Graduates from University of Houston with a bachelor of science
1988: Helps to deliver a baby in the back seat of a car while working at a pharmacy
1996: Rescues a 6-month-old baby who fell into a storm sewer in Houston
2000: Moves back to Goliad from Houston
How did Martinez gain power?
In 1989, he successfully works with the League of United Latin Americans to name an elementary school after his brother, Raul, the first Hispanic policeman in Houston in 1950.
In 2004, Martinez rides his horse from Goliad to Austin, or about 130 miles, alone to raise money and awareness for a Tejano Monument to one day be erected at the state capitol. The ride gained statewide media attention. The movement raised $1.4 million so far.
Helps raise money for scholarships. Through membership of the General Zaragoza Society, 10 $1,000 scholarships are given away each year. Another $10,000 is given through the Goliad Rotary Club. The League of United Latin Americans gives five scholarships of $500 each.
Martinez is one of three national historians for the Latin American league. Other positions he's held in the group include state director, district director, president of Council 60 in Houston and parliamentarian.
Q&A
Most influential teacher?"My father. I learned to be obedient and to value education. Be a good citizen. Help the people. Do community service."
Favorite cause?"I consider education to be more important than anything else. The most important thing that we are doing, and we've been doing since inception of LULAC, is that we have to educate people. Then they can speak for themselves."
One thing you would change about the Crossroads?"I believe parents should be more involved than what they are. Education begins at home. Parents need to be role models, and teach their children the value of an education, being good citizens and staying away from drugs, crime and prostitution."
Quick hits
Last book you read? "The Texas City Disaster of 1947." "I remember I was opening a window as a seventh-grader at 9 a.m. and boom, we heard it. We thought it was a bomb they had dropped on us, an atomic bomb. They made us get under the desks."
Who are your best friends? "Right now, my wife is. My brothers and sisters. And then I have lots of friends in Goliad, lots of friends in different towns and in Houston. Veterans, LULAC members."
Immediate family? His wife, Rosemary, and two daughters, Melinda, who lives in Brownsville, and Loretta, who lives in Houston.
Any pets? Two cats: Tiger and Wally.
SPEND A DAY WITH BENNY MARTINEZ
Martinez is writing a book called, "A Lifetime with LULAC." It describes the legacy of Mexicans and Tejanos and their struggle with civil rights and education. For the past eight years, he has worked with LULAC and several other volunteers to erect the Tejano Monument, a statue of a late 1700s Tejano horseman, in front of the state capitol.
"We're struggling because the environmental committee wants it in the back," he said. "We want it in the front."
When you walk into Hispanic rights activist Benny Martinez's home office, you are taking a trip through Hispanic history.
His office is decorated with achievements that serve as symbols of what he stands for. Street signs bearing the names of Hispanics he's helped get recognized. Numerous volumes of LULAC booklets stacked up on his shelves dating back to the 1930s. Pictures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.
But look in Martinez's eyes and you see a man who carries the spirit of his father, who emphasized education, respect and charity to all people, even when people weren't kind in return.
Martinez spent much of his childhood and adult years facing discrimination. Many say he lives his life to ensure everyone receives an equal chance to receive an education, and that everyone is treated with respect.
Editor’s note: This project is not a scientific measure of power. During a three-month period, Advocate readers voted for candidates via e-mail, online survey, snail mail and phone.
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It must be nice to be such an important person. If you don't believe it, just ask him. Such a shame to waste all of that importance and knowledge on little ol Goliad, when he could really be important back in Houston.
May 30, 2009 at 2:19 p.m.longdistanceshot: your comments are so silly they make me laugh out loud. People of color (I am not minor to anyone thank you very much) have had more opportunities? OK then who is it that provides these opportunities? Usually it is the white people in charge. So if you are white and you feel like you aren't getting your fair shake, maybe you should talk to your rich white brothers who still rule the roost. It ain't people of color keeping you down.
May 28, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.Beginning to sound like a bunch of morons regurgitating the spoon-fed rubbish you get from Limbaugh, Hannity, and Coulter.
Sotomayor yesterday, Martinez today - having a bad week bubba?
May 27, 2009 at 6:07 p.m.Isn't what you're saying racist as well? I mean you're expecting people to act in a certain way.
May 27, 2009 at 5:11 p.m.So you're going to arrest white people for being white? Or whats the payback you seek to give out?
May 27, 2009 at 5:07 p.m.Interestedreader: There was all that, we call it pre civil rights America.
May 27, 2009 at 4:44 p.m.WORD UP!
May 27, 2009 at 4:06 p.m.Find them and nominate them for the "most fascinating people" series that they are starting...if you don't, then you can't complain when you don't like the people that are featured for that.
May 27, 2009 at 4:02 p.m.I'm not too familiar with a lot of people around here. Mostly a lack of interest in them. But there's got to be more interesting people out there.
May 27, 2009 at 3:54 p.m.mikespace: how boring and predictable would it be to only read about people that you are already familiar with? I think the series has been very interesting so far and I look forward to the next installment.
May 27, 2009 at 3:48 p.m.When did these people get voted on? I don't recall ever seeing that... Who are these people again?
May 27, 2009 at 3:34 p.m.The disconnect between the anglo and the Tex-Mex population remains wide, even after so much progress in the past 40 years.
May 27, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.Benny Martinez and LULAC have been at the forefront of much of the progress. The Tex-Mex population of this area will continue to grow, and the continuing Mexican immigrant influx will have to be educated and schooled. We need to find a few more people like Benny Martinez.
To the sick and tired, Eat More Nopales, Tex-Mex spinach!!! LOL. I rememember a time when Anglos looked with disdain at tortillas and tacos, now they can't get enough! Progress!!
Interestedreader
You don’t know your “La Raza” from your ……
Or what “La Raza” means.
May 27, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.The Advocate did not choose the top ten...they were voted for by readers
May 27, 2009 at 1:47 p.m.For the first time in this series, I think the Advocate actually got this right. Bobby Hewitt may have been kind of right. The rest-no.
I think it is amazing how Benny has dedicated his life to what he believes in. It doesn't matter the cause or the theme, it's that he has never wavered. The problem with most of us is that we 'try on' causes, but we don't stay. When our interest wanes, we quit.
I congratulate you, Benny Martinez. I imagine a variety of folks have benefitted from your efforts, not just Hispanics. The example you have demonstrated should be a lesson for ALL people.
May 27, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.I bet all you tired of “hearing about the discriminated and downtrodden" love to hear the likes of Rush belly-ache about the '“discriminated and downtrodden” Anglos.
May 27, 2009 at 1:19 p.m.I tried to correct an error. I said La Raza and meant LULAC.
May 27, 2009 at 1:18 p.m.Until there is an anglo-american only Chamber of Commerce, anglo-american only Miss America, United Anglo-American College Fund, as a tax paying anglo-American I feel discriminated against. The Anglo-Americans didn't created the counterparts to the above referenced clubs. It's a shame this man's affliliation with La Raza is brought up because as soon as many people see that organization, they dismiss the other facts. Sad but true.
May 27, 2009 at 1:14 p.m.Joeknows779 I am sorry to hear you are tired of hearing about the discriminated and downtrodden in the Victoria area. I can only assume you are one of the more fortunate residents of the area who have never faced discrimination. And on that note, I hope you re-read this article and watch the interview again and listen closely to what my Uncle has to say, its amazing what you can learn when you actually listen and understand what is being said. Also Wire5050, I'm sorry you don't know who my Uncle is, I hope you can appreciate all the wonderful things he has done for the community in cities all around Texas. Feel free to GOOGLE his name to educate yourself on his years of service.
May 27, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.Is anyone else sick and tired of hearing about the discriminated and downtrodden in the victoria advocate on a daily basis? And as far as this "most powerful" stuff goes, power is control of money.It may not be your own money. The one who has control of the most money is the most powerful, case closed.
May 27, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.Well WIRE5050, you didn't have a clue before and now you do and I would think you would appreciate his work instead of criticizing. If Pepper is deserving I also hope he is one of the next.
May 27, 2009 at 9:59 a.m.Wire5050, that's hilarious. You're too funny.
May 27, 2009 at 9:59 a.m.I have no clue who this guy is. I am hoping at least pepper is one of the next two people. Everyone knows who he is at least.
May 27, 2009 at 9:03 a.m.