Roy Martin (politician)

Roy Martin was an American politician who served as mayor of Norfolk, Virginia from 1962 to 1974. A Democrat, he was renown for his support of Racial integration and served as the 31st President of the United States Conference of Mayors from 1973 to 1974.[1]

Mayor
Roy B. Martin Jr
161st Mayor of Norfolk, Virginia
In office
1962–1974
Preceded byW. Fred Duckworth
Succeeded byIrvine B. Hill
31st President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office
1973–1974
Preceded byLouie Welch
Succeeded byJoseph Alioto
Norfolk City Councilor
In office
1953–1962
Personal details
BornMay 13, 1921
Norfolk, Virginia
DiedMay 20, 2002(2002-05-20) (aged 81)
Norfolk, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseLouise Eggleston Martin
ChildrenSon, Daughter
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
College of William & Mary
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy

Early life

Martin attended high school at Maury High School and graduated in 1939. Martin attended the Norfolk division of the College of William & Mary from 1939 to 1940 before it transitioned into Old Dominion University. He then attended the University of Virginia where he received a Bachelor's degree in commerce.[2][3] After college Martin served in the Navy during World War II. Upon the conclusion of the war he returned to Norfolk to run a food brokerage business.[1][3]

Political career

City Council

Martin was appointed to the city council by mayor W. Fred Duckworth in 1953 becoming the city's youngest councilor.[1][3] During his first year in office there was talk among the city council to transition the Norfolk division of William and Mary into a four-year institution. However, despite support from mayor Duckworth, the city council rejected he prospect due to fear that they would be left covering the cost of the institution without state funding.[2][4] Nine years later in 1962 this proposed transition was revisited and passed with the division becoming the Old Dominion University.

In 1959, during the Massive resistance movement all white schools in the city where shut down to prevent racial integration. The city council then held a vote to additionally shut down all black schools, Martin was the sole dissenting vote on the city council voting to keep the schools open.[1][2][5][4][3]

Mayor of Norfolk

Martin succeeded Duckworth as mayor in 1962. During his tenure he helped create the Chrysler Museum of Art and the MacArthur Memorial as well as green lighting the creation of a new arena and recreation development.[1][4][6][7] Martin served as the 31st President of the United States Conference of Mayors from 1973 to 1974.[8][3]

Retirement

Martin retired from the mayoralty and the city council in 1974 upon the completion of his term as President of the United States Conference of Mayors. However, he remained active and participated in several local boards and was the city's goodwill ambassador.[1] He was also commander of the American Legion Post No. 300.[3]

Personal life

Martin was married to Louise Eggleston Martin and the couple had a son and a daughter. Martin died in 2002 at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer.[1]

References
  1. "Ex-Norfolk, Va., Mayor Martin Dies". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. Sweeney, James R. "Oral History Interview with Roy B. Martin". Old Dominion University. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  3. "SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 499". Virginia General Assembly. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. "Deaths". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. Leidholdt, Alexander Stewart. "The "Virginian-Pilot" Newspaper's Role in Moderating Norfolk, Virginia's 1958 School Desegregation CrisisVirginia's 1958 School Desegregation Crisis". Old Dominion University. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  6. Tennant, Diane (April 9, 2014). "Gen. MacArthur had special connection to Norfolk". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  7. Harrison, Jeff (November 23, 2021). "Walter Chrysler in Question: The Controversy of Owning Fakes". Chrysler. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. "Leadership". United States Conference of Mayors. November 23, 2016. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.