El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-23

1
FL PasO feels in his death. The CITY
hall viii be closed at o'clock Fri
day afternoon in respect to MS
memory
Felix Martinez was one or the first
citizens Of Fl Paso and the Eel Paso
Southwest. He was director OF the
Dallas regional reserve bank, CHAIR
man of the board of governors OF the
FL Paso Valley Water users assocla-
ton. vice president Of the southwestern
Portland Cement company and the mead
OF many public and private enter
prises. Only recently Mr.. Martinez was
named chairman of the executive com
mittee Of the great agricultural festival
which is to be held here next fall to
celebrate the dedication Of the Eli
plant Butte dam.
Work For Dam Project
of all of his interests, the Elephant
Butte dam was closest to Mr. Mar
tinez's heart and he devoted much or
his time to the furthering of this great
project which will make hundreds OF
settlers in the Rio Grande valleys in
dependent for life. He was one OF the
originators of the Rio Grande project
and Mr.. Martinez saw the great project
realized, and. had he lived few more
months, would have officiated at the
formal dedication Of the dam.
To south America.
Another Of Mr. Martinez's personal
triumphs was the success Of the visit
Of the Panama-PaCific commission to
South America to invite these countries
to participate in the Panama Pacific
exposition. As chairman of this com
mission, which MADE the trip to south
America on a L. s. cruiser in 1918. MI.
MARTINEZ succeeded in having many or
the countries send exhibits to san
Francisco for the fair and was selected
by the exposition board TO officiate
at the dedication of the Argentine
building at the fair.
Mr.. Martinez was an enthusiast over
the regional reserve bank plan and
made frequent trips to Dallas to at
tend the meeting OF the board Of di-
rectors of the Dallas reserve bank.
Loyal to New Mexico.
Although he made his home in II
Paso since 1897. Mr. MARTINEZ retained
his citizenship in New Mexico and his
interest was divided between the
growth OF El PasO and the develop
ment Of his native state. Living IN II
Paso. Mr. MARTINEZ was considered .
mower in New Mexico politics and
public affairs. and was consulted on
all matters Of public policy in that
state. He was urged to become q
candidate for governor Of the state al
the next election but declined Again
he was urged TO allow his name TO De
mentioned as a. candidate for United
States senator, and it was stated
Thursday that. had he lived and con-
scented 20 make the race, he would
Many kilograms.
kilograms have been pouring INTO
Mr.. Nartinez's office since his death
"Wednesday afternoon and include
many Of the most prominent men in
the United States. one was from r l.
NanZandt, governor of the Dallas fed
eral reserve bank.
We are greatly panied and shocked
= 10
friend, Felix MARTINEZ the message
read. He was greatly beloved and
highly respected by our entire direc-
tOrate and all of the officers and en-
from the federal reserve bank has been
ordered for the funeral
Another telegram was from A. \.
Jones, assistant secretary OF the in
terror, which read in part: Il regret
more than words can tell the untimelv
demise Of Felix Martinez, for more
than a quarter or n century he has
been one of my close friends"
c, LeOnnrdt Coming.
Carl Leonardt, president OF the
Southwestern Portland Cement COM
pany, with whom Nj. Martinez was
closely associated and who is now on
his way to attend the funeral, sent
the following message to Alfonso Mar
tinez Thursday morning.
This mornings paper reports that
your distinguished father has passed
away l regret more than I can ex-
press to learn this. I always consid-
cred your father one Of my best friends.
He was one Of the most conscientious,
straightforward, upright men ever
knew
Born In 1857.
Felix Martinez was born in Taos
county. y. NJ, March %. 1857. the son
Of Felix Martinez and Reyes (Cordova)
Martinez. He received his early educa-
ton through private tutors and later
spent four years in st. Mary's college
at Mora, y. NJ. He supplemented this
with three years study in private
school at Denver.
The first position held by Mr. Marti-
nez was that OF general salesman for
firm in Denver and Pueblo, but in 1877,
when he was about 20 years Of age, he
embarked in business for himself as the
of a general mercantile store
at FL Moro, Colo. He only remained
there about two years, however, mov-
ing in 1879 to Las Vegas, y. NJ, where
he engaged in business on large scale
In addition to conducting a mercantile
he also engaged in buying
and selling livestock and sheep. and in
lumber manufacturing enterprises.
Then his property burned and he lost
practically everything he had.
Married in 1850.
On September "a. 1880. he was united
in marriage to Virginia Buster. at Las
Vegas. He conducted his store and other
in the real estate business. giving es-
pecial attention to the building of
homes. which he sold to settlers on the
instalment plan.
Active in Politics.
Mr.. Martinez also became interested
In various industrial and development
pursuits. Beginning his political activ-
itv about the year 1884. Mr., Martinez
for nearly II years was the leader Of
his PARTY in San Miguel county. Early
in his political career he was a candi-
date for election to. the office OF county
treasurer of San Miguel county. and
only failed Of election by a few votes
Two years later in 1856, he was the
Democratic candidate for county asses
sor and was elected. He served as as
SCISSOR for two years and in 1888 was
elected a member of the territorial
house of representatives. He served
This capacity until 1892. when he was
sIected to the New Mexico senate from
SAN Miguel. He also held office as dis
.rict clerk during the Cleveland admin
stration.
To National Convention.
In the same year Mr.. Martinez was
elected chairman of the New Mexico
delegation to the Democratic national
Here in 1897.
In 1897 he moved his headquarters to