Maceo Conrad Martin: Difference between revisions

Maceo Conrad Martin Jr. (1923 – ) is a prominent retired Danville, Virginia banker, former U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer, and former fighter pilot with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails." He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots. He is the brother of famed Civil Rights attorney, Martin A. Martin.

Early Life

Martin was born in Danville, Virginia. He was the oldest of three children born to the Maceo Conrad Martin Sr. and Lavinia Henderson Martin. Martin's father, Maceo Conrad Martin Sr. (1897-1981), was one of 22 African American men who founded the Savings Bank of Danville (later the "First State Bank", and now "Movement Bank"), Virginia's oldest African American-owned financial institution founded September 8, 1919. Martin Sr. served as the First State Bank's officer from 1919 to 1970. He also served as the President of the National Bankers Association.

Martin Jr.'s brother, Martin A. Martin was a prominent civil rights attorney and law partner of famed civil rights attorney, Oliver Hill. Martin's sister, Edwina Martin, was the first African American juvenile court probation officer in Greenville, South Carolina, and one of three black women who successfully graduated from the U.S. Air Force Officer's Candidate School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas in 1953.

World War II Military Service, Tuskegee Airmen

On October 15, 1943, Martin enlisted in the U.S. Army in Roanoke Virginia with the initial rank of Private.

On May 14, 1946, Martin graduated from the Tuskegee Pilot Cadet Program's Class SE-46-B, Single Engine Section. Though World War II ended before he completed pilot training, Martin is still considered a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails". He graduated with an officer commission as Flight Officer..

Family's Civil Rights Lawsuit Against the Commonwealth of Virginia

In 1948, Martin and his family embarked on a vacation to Staunton River State Park. Park authorities denied the Martins entry to the state park based on his race. Martin's family consulted the prestigious Richmond, Virginia-based civil rights law firm of Hill, Tucker and Robinson, led by Oliver Hill, famed civil rights attorney and Thurgood Marshall's Howard University of Law classmate. Hill's firm filed a civil suit against the Commonwealth of Virginia under the “separate but equal” doctrine. The suit alleged that Staunton River State Park's policy only allowed white citizens to use its facility, with no accommodations for African Americans.

In response, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Development converted a segregated African-American/"Colored Only" recreation area into a state park facility: the "Prince Edward State Park for Negroes" (now the Twin Lakes State Park).In 1949, then-Virginia Governor William Tuck allotted $195,000 to create 6 housekeeping cabins, an expanded swimming area, expanded parking, a bathhouse, and concession stand.

Opened to the general "Colored Only/African-Americans Only" public in June 1950, Prince Edward State Park for Negroes became the Commonwealth of Virginia's eighth state park and the only pre-Civil Rights Era state park for African-Americans. African Americans from across the mid-Atlantic states visited the park for its swimming, recreation, camping and dancing.

Later Life

Martin joined the Danville, Virginia's First State Bank, becoming its president in 1951. During his tenure, his bank bailed out protesters during Danville’s 1963 civil rights movement. Critical of police conduct towards demonstrators, Martin. served as the only African American juror on a special seven-man grand jury formed during Danville, Virginia's 1963 civil rights demonstrations. He filed the sole dissent to protest the protesters' indictments. His bank posted bond for all 20 jailed demonstrators.

As of 2020, Martin resides in Valley Village, California.