|
Roy Martin was born in 1895 in
Rosebud, Arkansas to Charles and Liza Martin. His
first musical instruction was from Professor Albert
G. Fenton, who was hired by Martin’s father to teach
the Martin Family Band. Martin later received his
diploma from the Fenton Conservatory of music in
Quitman, Arkansas. After having served productively
in a variety of categories, including principalship,
band director, and coach, in Damascus, Princeton,
Magnolia, Bearden, and Pine Bluff, Martin moved to
Greenwood, Mississippi, as a high school band
director.
His keen mind, ability to
communicate, and excellent relationships with
people soon placed him among the very top
leaders in his profession. Martin’s solid
musicianship and teaching ability made the GHS
band a pertinacious competitor in the
Mississippi State Band Contests. He founded the
Delta Band Festival and held the first and only
Dixie Band Contest in Greenwood. Martin was a
prime mover in the organization of the first
Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band, a position he
held for nineteen years.
He resigned in Greenwood in 1952
and continued with various projects, such as the
Dixielanders, the Mac Awards, and the USA Band
and Chorus. Martin received numerous awards,
including the Mississippi Lion’s Hall of Fame,
the Edwin Franko Goldman Award of the American
School band Director's Association, the Cross of
Malta of the Veterans of the Foreign Wars, the
Gold Medal from the University of Rome, the
American Legion Gold Medal, and the Lion’s
International Banner of Excellence. In
1984, the Mississippi Legislature passed
Resolution NO. 15 recognizing his service and
accomplishments.
|
