Maceo Conrad Martin: Difference between revisions

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==Early Life==
==Early Life==


Martin was born in [[Danville, Virginia]] in 1923. He was the 2nd of three children born to the Maceo Conrad Martin Sr. (18 Jun 1897 – 29 Sep 1981) and Lavinia Henderson Martin.<ref> Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986 </ref>
Martin was born in [[Danville, Virginia]] in 1923. He was the 2nd of three children born to the Maceo Conrad Martin Sr. (18 Jun 1897 – 29 Sep 1981) and Elaine Lavinia Henderson Martin (1896–1932) who died from Tuberculosis when Martin Jr. was 9 years old.<ref> Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986 </ref><ref> Find a Grave. "Maceo Conrad Martin." "https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191086122/maceo-conrad-martin </ref><ref> Find a Grave. "Elaine Lavinia Henderson Martin." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191086125/elaine-lavina-martin </ref>

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.<ref> Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986 </ref> 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]].<ref> THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. "First State Bank." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171809 </ref>
Martin 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 on September 8, 1919.<ref> Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986 </ref> 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]].<ref> THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. "First State Bank." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171809 </ref>


Martin Jr.'s brother, [[Martin A. Martin]] was a prominent civil rights attorney and law partner of famed civil rights attorney, [[Oliver Hill]].<ref> Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "In the Interest of Justice." https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks//blog/in-the-interest-of-justice?id=in-the-interest-of-justice </ref> 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.<ref> Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986 </ref>
Martin Jr.'s brother, [[Martin A. Martin]] was a prominent civil rights attorney and law partner of famed civil rights attorney, [[Oliver Hill]].<ref> Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "In the Interest of Justice." https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks//blog/in-the-interest-of-justice?id=in-the-interest-of-justice </ref> 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.<ref> Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986 </ref>

Revision as of 19:53, 11 July 2021

Maceo Conrad Martin Jr. (1923 – ) is a prominent retired Danville, Virginia banker, civil rights activist, former U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force flight officer with the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails." He is one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[1] He is the brother of famed Civil Rights attorney, Martin A. Martin (July 24, 1910 – April 27, 1963), the first African American to serve as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice on May 31, 1943.[2]

Early Life

Martin was born in Danville, Virginia in 1923. He was the 2nd of three children born to the Maceo Conrad Martin Sr. (18 Jun 1897 – 29 Sep 1981) and Elaine Lavinia Henderson Martin (1896–1932) who died from Tuberculosis when Martin Jr. was 9 years old.[3][4][5]

Martin 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 on September 8, 1919.[6] 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.[7]

Martin Jr.'s brother, Martin A. Martin was a prominent civil rights attorney and law partner of famed civil rights attorney, Oliver Hill.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11].[12]

Civil Rights Activism, 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 their race. The Martins consulted the prestigious Richmond, Virginia-based civil rights law firm of Hill, Tucker and Robinson, led by Oliver Hill, famed civil rights attorney and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice 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, Virginia Governor William Tuck allotted $195,000 to create 6 housekeeping cabins, an expanded swimming area, expanded parking, a bathhouse, and concession stand.[13]

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. [14] African Americans from across the mid-Atlantic states visited the park for its swimming, recreation, camping and dancing.[15]

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.[16][17]

As of 2020, Martin resides in Valley Village, California.[18]

  1. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. ^ Encyclopedia Virginia. "Martin A. Martin Joins Staff of U.S. Attorney General Biddle." http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evr7993mets.xml
  3. ^ Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986
  4. ^ Find a Grave. "Maceo Conrad Martin." "https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191086122/maceo-conrad-martin
  5. ^ Find a Grave. "Elaine Lavinia Henderson Martin." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191086125/elaine-lavina-martin
  6. ^ Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986
  7. ^ THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. "First State Bank." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171809
  8. ^ Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "In the Interest of Justice." https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks//blog/in-the-interest-of-justice?id=in-the-interest-of-justice
  9. ^ Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986
  10. ^ Martin was assigned Military serial# 33658135. Ancient Faces Genealogy Database. "Maceo Conrad Martin." https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/maceo-c-jr-martin-birth-1923-united-states/154894866
  11. ^ Tuskegee University. “List of Tuskegee Airmen.” https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-listing
  12. ^ Caf Rise Above. “Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster.” https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/
  13. ^ Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "Maceo Conrad Martin." https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/tlsp-digimarc-pilot-maceo-martin.pdf
  14. ^ "History of a Pre-Civil Rights Era State Park." Christen Miller. February 19, 2019. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/blog/black-history-month-prince-edward-state-park-for-negroes-a-refuge-for
  15. ^ Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. "In the Interest of Justice." https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks//blog/in-the-interest-of-justice?id=in-the-interest-of-justice
  16. ^ THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. "First State Bank." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171809
  17. ^ Richmond Times Dispatch. "Williams: Danville bank’s history is safe and secure at U.Va." MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS. Feb 26, 2013 Updated Sep 19, 2019. https://richmond.com/news/local/williams-danville-bank-s-history-is-safe-and-secure-at-u-va/article_3c013b3c-0ff0-56e9-bff3-5a1915225640.html
  18. ^ Legacy. Edwina Martin." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/godanriver/name/edwina-martin-obituary?pid=197469986
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