Lifetime Achievement Award-Gilbert Martinez
Gilbert M. Martinez has spent much of the last 45 years in service to his community. As committed civic servant, he has improved the lives of many citizens throughout the state. Mr. Martinez’s closest friends and family will tell you that the proudest accomplishment in his life is his continuous service to his community.
In 1969, Gilbert M. Martinez began his career in the banking industry with City Bank. In 1972, became the first Hispanic bank officer in Austin at Union National Bank. He also served on the Board of Directors of First State Bank for 17 years. In 1980, Mr. Martinez opened the first of several businesses which included two office supply companies. Since 1982, Mr. Martinez and his sons, Clifford and Michael, have owned Ben White Florist. His latest business venture, Martinez and Sons Builders, has constructed many homes over the last 12 years in Austin.
Mr. Martinez began his community involvement by serving on the City of Austin Board of the Office of Economic Opportunity from 1965-1968. He served on the Austin Alcoholic Council and worked fervently with Father Richard McCabe to open a detoxification center in Austin. Mr. Martinez was a founding member of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1973 and served as its second Chair of the Board of Directors. He continues to contribute to the Chamber as a member of Los Tejanos, the former GAHCC Chairs.
He has served on the Board of Directors for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Austin Symphony, the Capitol Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the National Board of the Southern Region of Boy Scouts of America. He was the only Hispanic on the Industrial Engineering Board at Texas Tech University and was largely responsible for student recruitment in predominately Hispanic areas. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees for Austin Community College from 1982-1988 and served as Vice Chairman of the Board from 1986-1988. Mr. Martinez was Chairman for the City of Austin Planning Commission from 1980-1985. He was appointed by President George H. Bush to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and served on the commission for 7 years. He was also appointed to the Court Reporters Certification Board by the Texas Supreme Court. He is the 1991 recipient of the Boys Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award for Exceptional Service. Mr. Martinez currently serves on the Board of Directors for HealthSouth.
Gilbert M. Martinez, a Korean War Army Veteran, has been married to his wife Louise for 52 years and has three children, Clifford, Michael and Annette and three grandchildren. He is a graduate of St. Edward’s University.
