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Hero Memorial Committee of Silvis, 1968-2001

Fifty-three years of Public Service Thomas H. Martinez 1930-1953 Page 4

THOMAS H. MARTINEZ

Looking back now after 53 years of public voluntary service in organizations military and civilian government activities, LTC (Ret) Thomas H. Martinez, AUS, native of Trinidad, CO has many memories, CO has many memories, achievements and hard to match record in humanitarian accomplishments. Commencing in 1930 as a youthful 16-year old high school member of the Prosperity Club, and a lodge member of the Alianza In Walsenburg, CO, his enviable record of service to God, Country, Family ,Community, and La Raza is endless. He was noted in "Who's Who in Colorado" centennial edition of 1976 by Dr. Dan Valdes.
Tomas is a native son of Colorado, born on February 8, 1914 in Sopris, CO, a mining town five miles west of Trinidad. His parents of happy memory were Jose Rosendo and Onofre G. Martinez, both now deceased. He has two sisters, Virginia M. Montoya of Valdez, CO, and Rose Byland, Camino, CA. One recently deceased brother, Manuel Reyes Martinez of French Lick, Indiana, and an older brother, Eloy G, Martinez, who passed away in 1961 at Trinidad, CO.
The Martinez family has resided at 1225 E. Cache La Poudre in Colorado Springs for the past twenty-six years.Members of the family are: Thomas H, Jr, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Rev. William G., Presentation Parish, Denver; James Chico, Alamosa, CO, Johnny F. Greeley, CO; Mary B. Nelson and Linda M. Cuellar of Colorado Springs. 
LTC Martinez who rose from the rank of Private, U.S. Army to Lieutenant Colonel during World War II and Korea, is known as the "All-American Hispano" for his participation and involvement in international , national, state and local community affairs for all peoples. His motto is "It is better  to wear out, than rust out" and he is living up to that slogan. His long list of accomplishments in civic, educational, charitable, patriotic. community and military services is well known and recognized in Colorado, the Southwest and Nation
LTC Martinez is a graduate of Huerfano County High School in 1933. He was twice selected in 1932-33 by the National Honor Society for his high scholastic record and individual character as a student. Being a native of Trinidad, Co originally, he attended Trinidad State Junior College in 1941. He obtained a two year college associate equivalent certificate in the Armed Services. After retirement he attended Blair Business College in 1963 and returned to Civil Service employment in the Transportation Division, Fort Carson, CO. 
Martinez is one of the selected Minutemen of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States and a lifetime member.He operated freely and voluntarily in the 1950's and 60's to obtain national legislation through ROA for America's security and defense. he has served as Fort Carson's former ROA Chapter President, and in 1964 was Department of Colorado ROA prexy. Upon retirement from military service in 1962, Martinez and his family settled in Colorado Springs where he is busily engaged in various civic, parish and organizational activities. He and his family are former members of Divine Redeemer Church and now attend and assist Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. 
In Europe, Korea and Mexico he worked diligently as an ambassador of goodwill in developing friendly relations as an officer and civilian. He has assisted and participated in charitable projects to help the people of other nations too. Through  the efforts of the Holy Name Society in Pusan, Korea to which he belonged, the US Army personnel voluntarily solicited and contributed monies and time to help build a 160 bed hospital for the Maryknoll Sisters and its Korean citizens in 1954-55.
In the 1960's and 70's Martinez was actively engaged in local community programs involving veteran organizations, the poor and disadvantaged minorities of all races. he rendered in 1963-64 valuable services to the El Paso County Heart Unit in public relations. He was Secretary and President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and in 1965-66 the members initiated the self service thrift store now located at 516 South Tejon St., He became a member and sponsor of Big Brothers, Inc. and while working with his Little Brother, Bruce Maez, he also provided guidance and assistance to the whole Maez family. He served on operation SER, Jobs for Progress, Inc., aa a member and Chairman providing training and educational advancement to hundreds of persons in El Paso County. He was involved with the City of Colorado Springs as a member of the Manpower Area Planning Council, the Urban Renewal Planning and the Task Force for Veterans committees. In the community, he spearheaded and was very instrumental in the organizational development of La Raza Unity Council of the Pikes Peak Region for the progress and advancement of the Spanish origin elements. 
In 1970 Martinez served as Chairman of the Veterans and Military Council of the Pikes Peak Region, the combined service groups which champion the rights and benefits of veterans of all wars. In 1967 Martinez joined the American GI Forum, a family oriented veterans organization in Colorado Springs. He has served as President of the local chapter, twice as state vice chairman in Colorado, and is past chairman of the Veterans Outreach Program which has placed hundreds of veterans in jobs, given them on the job training, education, hospitalization and assurance of their Bill of Rights. 
In 1968 Martinez and fifteen other charter members headed by Luis A. Cortez Jr., organized the Latin American Educational foundation chapter in Colorado Springs. This organization wwas needed and instrumental in raising scholarship funds to assist Hispanic college bound students to enter the institutions of higher learning in Colorado and other states. Through the efforts of LAEF officials and members during the past 15 years, over 835 student applicants have been given financial aid or scholarships in the amount of $209,000. Martinez is fully aware that "Education -- The Birthright of Every American" is one of the major solutions to the socio-economic progressive status of all Americans including minorities and women. The L.A.E.F. office is located at 22 North Spruce Street in downtown Colorado Springs and is open from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. to serve the Hispanic students and others in obtaining a higher education or vocational trade. Previously in 1972 as Executive Secretary of LAEF, Martinez and his colleagues worked feverishly to bring Charro Associations of Juarez and Durango, Mexico to Colorado Springs as a new cultural event to help raise over $5,000 in scholarship funds. 
In 1969 Martinez aided in organizing the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Colorado Springs as Council No. 3006, In 1972 he worked on the Educational Advisory Committee which brought to Colorado the LULAC National Education Service Center to service marginal income and underprivileged individuals in higher education. From 1972 to the present date L.N.E.S.C. in Colorado Springs and Pueblo have processed and aided over 5,000 students to enter college and guided and assisted them to obtain over $1.000,000 in various forms of financial aid available through college sources.

LA RAZA
MEJICANO!
ESPANOL!
LATINO!
HISPANO!
CHICANO!
OR
WHATEVER YOU 
CALL ME. 
I LOOK THE SAME
I FEEL THE SAME
I CRY AND 
SING THE SAME
AS ANY OTHER
AMERICAN. 

EEO SPECIALIST HISPANIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Saving...

THOMAS H. MARTINEZ Looking back now after 53 years of public voluntary service in organizations military and civilian government activities, LTC (Ret) Thomas H. Martinez, AUS, native of Trinidad, CO has many memories, CO has many memories, achievements and hard to match record in humanitarian accomplishments. Commencing in 1930 as a youthful 16-year old high school member of the Prosperity Club, and a lodge member of the Alianza In Walsenburg, CO, his enviable record of service to God, Country, Family ,Community, and La Raza is endless. He was noted in "Who's Who in Colorado" centennial edition of 1976 by Dr. Dan Valdes. Tomas is a native son of Colorado, born on February 8, 1914 in Sopris, CO, a mining town five miles west of Trinidad. His parents of happy memory were Jose Rosendo and Onofre G. Martinez, both now deceased. He has two sisters, Virginia M. Montoya of Valdez, CO, and Rose Byland, Camino, CA. One recently deceased brother, Manuel Reyes Martinez of French Lick, Indiana, and an older brother, Eloy G, Martinez, who passed away in 1961 at Trinidad, CO. The Martinez family has resided at 1225 E. Cache La Poudre in Colorado Springs for the past twenty-six years.Members of the family are: Thomas H, Jr, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Rev. William G., Presentation Parish, Denver; James Chico, Alamosa, CO, Johnny F. Greeley, CO; Mary B. Nelson and Linda M. Cuellar of Colorado Springs. LTC Martinez who rose from the rank of Private, U.S. Army to Lieutenant Colonel during World War II and Korea, is known as the "All-American Hispano" for his participation and involvement in international , national, state and local community affairs for all peoples. His motto is "It is better to wear out, than rust out" and he is living up to that slogan. His long list of accomplishments in civic, educational, charitable, patriotic. community and military services is well known and recognized in Colorado, the Southwest and Nation LTC Martinez is a graduate of Huerfano County High School in 1933. He was twice selected in 1932-33 by the National Honor Society for his high scholastic record and individual character as a student. Being a native of Trinidad, Co originally, he attended Trinidad State Junior College in 1941. He obtained a two year college associate equivalent certificate in the Armed Services. After retirement he attended Blair Business College in 1963 and returned to Civil Service employment in the Transportation Division, Fort Carson, CO. Martinez is one of the selected Minutemen of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States and a lifetime member.He operated freely and voluntarily in the 1950's and 60's to obtain national legislation through ROA for America's security and defense. he has served as Fort Carson's former ROA Chapter President, and in 1964 was Department of Colorado ROA prexy. Upon retirement from military service in 1962, Martinez and his family settled in Colorado Springs where he is busily engaged in various civic, parish and organizational activities. He and his family are former members of Divine Redeemer Church and now attend and assist Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. In Europe, Korea and Mexico he worked diligently as an ambassador of goodwill in developing friendly relations as an officer and civilian. He has assisted and participated in charitable projects to help the people of other nations too. Through the efforts of the Holy Name Society in Pusan, Korea to which he belonged, the US Army personnel voluntarily solicited and contributed monies and time to help build a 160 bed hospital for the Maryknoll Sisters and its Korean citizens in 1954-55. In the 1960's and 70's Martinez was actively engaged in local community programs involving veteran organizations, the poor and disadvantaged minorities of all races. he rendered in 1963-64 valuable services to the El Paso County Heart Unit in public relations. He was Secretary and President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and in 1965-66 the members initiated the self service thrift store now located at 516 South Tejon St., He became a member and sponsor of Big Brothers, Inc. and while working with his Little Brother, Bruce Maez, he also provided guidance and assistance to the whole Maez family. He served on operation SER, Jobs for Progress, Inc., aa a member and Chairman providing training and educational advancement to hundreds of persons in El Paso County. He was involved with the City of Colorado Springs as a member of the Manpower Area Planning Council, the Urban Renewal Planning and the Task Force for Veterans committees. In the community, he spearheaded and was very instrumental in the organizational development of La Raza Unity Council of the Pikes Peak Region for the progress and advancement of the Spanish origin elements. In 1970 Martinez served as Chairman of the Veterans and Military Council of the Pikes Peak Region, the combined service groups which champion the rights and benefits of veterans of all wars. In 1967 Martinez joined the American GI Forum, a family oriented veterans organization in Colorado Springs. He has served as President of the local chapter, twice as state vice chairman in Colorado, and is past chairman of the Veterans Outreach Program which has placed hundreds of veterans in jobs, given them on the job training, education, hospitalization and assurance of their Bill of Rights. In 1968 Martinez and fifteen other charter members headed by Luis A. Cortez Jr., organized the Latin American Educational foundation chapter in Colorado Springs. This organization wwas needed and instrumental in raising scholarship funds to assist Hispanic college bound students to enter the institutions of higher learning in Colorado and other states. Through the efforts of LAEF officials and members during the past 15 years, over 835 student applicants have been given financial aid or scholarships in the amount of $209,000. Martinez is fully aware that "Education -- The Birthright of Every American" is one of the major solutions to the socio-economic progressive status of all Americans including minorities and women. The L.A.E.F. office is located at 22 North Spruce Street in downtown Colorado Springs and is open from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. to serve the Hispanic students and others in obtaining a higher education or vocational trade. Previously in 1972 as Executive Secretary of LAEF, Martinez and his colleagues worked feverishly to bring Charro Associations of Juarez and Durango, Mexico to Colorado Springs as a new cultural event to help raise over $5,000 in scholarship funds. In 1969 Martinez aided in organizing the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Colorado Springs as Council No. 3006, In 1972 he worked on the Educational Advisory Committee which brought to Colorado the LULAC National Education Service Center to service marginal income and underprivileged individuals in higher education. From 1972 to the present date L.N.E.S.C. in Colorado Springs and Pueblo have processed and aided over 5,000 students to enter college and guided and assisted them to obtain over $1.000,000 in various forms of financial aid available through college sources. LA RAZA MEJICANO! ESPANOL! LATINO! HISPANO! CHICANO! OR WHATEVER YOU CALL ME. I LOOK THE SAME I FEEL THE SAME I CRY AND SING THE SAME AS ANY OTHER AMERICAN. EEO SPECIALIST HISPANIC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM