Brother James Ernest Martin . . . Alpha Giant of Bluefield, W . Va. Brother Ernest Martin, the first of four sons of Anne Giddeon and James Ernest Martin, Sr., was born March 20, 1898 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was educated in the Boston Latin School, Colby Acedemy in New London, and Dartmouth College at Hanover. Having been graduated from Tufts University with the D. M. D. degree, he practiced dentistry in Boston for three years, but responded to the call for an interim coach at Lincoln University, Chester, Pennsylvania. From 1924 through 1928 he enjoyed his work with young men and renewed an invigorating contact with sports, for he had been a four-letter man at Tufts. In 1928 Brother Martin settled here in Bluefield with his wife, Bernice Hughes Martin whom he had wed in 1925. Again, interested in sports and the college of his new home town, he answered the call to join the coaching staff of Bluefield State College. Indeed, Brother Martin (a member of the Pigskin Club of Washington, D. C.) held many positions in the athletic arena serving as an official in C. I. A. A. Conference for eight years. As his accomplishments in the dental field expanded, he was recognized throughout the state. He was appointed consulting dentist for Lakin State Hospital and served there with dedication for thirty-five years. Also in the state, he was presiding president of the 56th session of the Medical Association. In the civic and religious life of this city, Brother Martin (a life member of the N. A.A.C.P.) leaves lasting monuments to his memory. He was a member of the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, and gave active leadership to the Human Rights Committee. Along with his close relative, friend, and associate, Dr. P. R. Higginbotham, he spurred the methodical purchase of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity House and sponsored the establishment of the Alpha Upsilon Boule' of Sigma Pi Phi. We cannot forget his concerted effort to purchase and install here 6
Brother James E. Martin
in our church, the John Steward United Methodist Church, the organ to which we listen today. Characterized as a gentleman, a warm friend, and a valued servant in public health, we revere the memory of a man who has served well his community, his race, and his fellowmen. We who live after him must hold to the importance of living and the acceptance of death. We must believe that something good a man has done lives on, for this is one of the basic meanings of immortality. He was the beloved husband of Bernice Hughes Martin; brother of Julius F. Martin; nephew of Mrs. Cora M. Bryant; uncle of Drs. Ernest and Harold Martin and Ann Martin Williams; cousin of Dr. Jessie Garnett and Russell Giddeon. He is also survived by many other relatives and friends. The following Brothers spoke of Brother Martin, as they knew him; Stephen Wright, former president of Bluefield State College and Fisk University, Marshall Shepherd, Waymon Coston, Otis Calloway of Boston, Mass., Reese Burns and C. Anderson Davis, past Mid-Western Vice President and Editor of The Sphinx.
Tribute. . . ERNIE MARTIN By Stubby Currence Bluefield lost a beneficial and wellliked citizen when Dr. J. Ernest Martin, who had practised denistry here for 45 years, died in a Washington hospital. I had known Ernie almost that long. Besides being active in community affairs and his church and in medical circles, Dr. Martin was a sports enthusiast after his days as a star athlete at Tufts and prior to that in prep school. He later was Lincoln University football coach and after that he served part time as a member of the Bluefield State coaching staff. Then he was an official for several years. His accomplishments were too many to try and enumerate and people who knew him recognized those high citizenship qualities. Really, I numbered Ernie Martin among my friends for a long time. I talked to him quite often and that talk usually centered aroung sports, though we talked of other things, like community affairs and racial problems. I also recall that Dr. Martin once was a candidate for the city board of directors and this newspaper endorsed him for that position. That was a long time ago and things were different back then, and Dr. Martin was defeated because he was a black man, probably. He would have made a useful member of the city board. Ernie was buried here instead of in his native New England. He had told his wife, often, that when he retired he didn't want to return to New England. "I'm going to stay right here," he said. "This is our home, this is where our friends are." So, Ernie Martin is still in Bluefield. The things he did and the effect of those things will long be remembered. Besides a leader of his race, he was a beneficial citizen of this community. He was a great athlete, and as one of his long-ago school mates wrote, the other day, "Ernie was the best liked person (Continued on page 7) The Sphinx I December 1d73