Martin High School (Laredo, Texas)

Raymond & Tirza Martin High School, known as Martin High School, is a secondary school in the Laredo Independent School District in Laredo, Texas, United States. Grades 9–12 are taught there. It serves students living in central Laredo. The school is adjacent to the Laredo Civic Center.

Martin High School
Location
Laredo, Texas, United States
Coordinates27.5179°N 99.5063°W / 27.5179; -99.5063
Information
TypePublic
School districtLaredo Independent School District
PrincipalGuillermo Pro
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,866 (2014–15)[1]
Color(s)Red and white
MascotTiger
WebsiteMartin High School

History
Entrance to Martin High School (renovated 2008)
The former gymnasium at Martin High School
The Colonel Roberto Flores Academic and Wellness Center on the Martin High School campus

Laredo High School, the first public school in Laredo, was founded downtown in 1916 at the site of the present day La Posada Hotel. In 1937, Laredo High School was moved to San Bernardo Avenue and renamed Martin High School. It was the only public high school in Laredo from 1937 until 1964, when J. W. Nixon High School opened in The Heights neighborhood.

Martin High School is well known for its band, also acknowledged as "La Banda Del Animo." The most popular and energetic song played by this band is their "Fight Song". Martin High has several distinctions under its belt as their band was the first band invited from Laredo to perform at a Dallas Cowboys game and has been invited to perform at several parades around the state of Texas. Martin sports the only basketball team from Laredo ever to win a State Basketball Championship—in 1956. Several of the schools sayings are "The Pride of Laredo," and the most well-known is "Once A Tiger, Always A Tiger."

One of Martin High's most enduring teachers was Elizabeth Sorrell, who taught principally English in the Laredo independent school District from 1931 to 1979. Thereafter, she launched a second career as the popular society columnist for the Laredo Morning Times.

Another faculty member, Esther Buckley (1948–2013), a 1963 graduate of Martin High School, taught for forty-two years for the Laredo independent school District. Her last position was as an instructor at the Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health Science Center, which functions as a magnet school within Martin High School. In 2010, she was a finalist for "Best in Texas" Education Award by H-E-B Foods. Buckley was a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights from 1983 until 1992, an original appointee of U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan. Buckley was also a former chairman of the Republican Party in Webb County.[2][3]

Martin High School has an award-winning Crime Stoppers program under the direction of Sandra Rocha. The director for the LISD Campus Crime Stoppers Program is Estela Quintanilla. The two are Martin High School graduates.

Martin's school colors are red and white.

Mascot: Tiger

MOTTO: Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger

Magnet school
The Health Science Magnet School of Laredo ISD is named for physician Dennis D. Cantu, a member of the Laredo independent school District Board.

The Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health and Science Magnet School focuses on health and science education, with two career paths available. Dennis Cantu is a graduate, not of Martin High School but of J. W. Nixon High School, a practicing physician in Laredo, and a member of the Laredo independent school Board.

Notable alumni
  • Domingo Arechiga (1926–1987), Class of 1945 – president of Laredo Community College, 1974 to 1985[4]
  • Ramón H. Dovalina (born 1943), Class of 1960 – president of Laredo Community College, 1995 to 2007[5]
  • William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr. (1940–2002), Class of 1958 – member of the Texas House of Representatives, county treasurer, civic leader
  • Oscar M. Laurel (1920–2001) – state representative, district attorney, member of the National Transportation Safety Board, executive director of the International Good Neighbor Council, firebrand Democratic orator
  • Abraham Kazen (1919–1987) – U.S. representative from 1967 to 1983
  • Radcliffe Killam (1910–2007), Class of 1937 – oilman, businessman, rancher, landowner, philanthropist
  • Honoré Ligarde (1920–1986), Class of 1937 – state representative for Webb County from 1963 to 1973, businessman, lawyer, banker, civic figure
  • Juan L. Maldonado (born 1948), Class of 1967 – President of Laredo Community College since 2007[6]
  • J. C. "Pepe" Martin, Jr. (1913–1998), Class of 1930 – Mayor of Laredo, 1954–1978
  • Alicia Dickerson Montemayor (1902–1989), Class of 1924 – Hispanic activist and community organizer
  • George Neel, Jr. (Class of 1947, 1930–2015) – businessman, rancher, civic figure
  • Ezequiel D. Salinas (1908–2007) – state court judge and Hispanic rights activist
  • Mario Santos, Jr. (1940–2014) – sheriff of Webb County from 1977 to 1988
  • Elizabeth Sorrell (1909–2007) – English teacher and journalist in Laredo
  • Vidal M. Treviño (1929–2006) – educator, state representative, and Democratic power broker
  • Danny Valdez – Webb County Judge since 2007; former justice of the peace
  • Gene S. Walker, Sr. (1926–2015) – rancher and businessman
  • Oscar J. Zuniga (1922–2007) – engineer who designed three Laredo neighborhoods

References
  1. "MARTIN H S". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  2. JJ Velasquez, "Minivan-truck crash leaves beloved educator dead", Laredo Morning Times, February 12, 2013, pp. 1, 12A
  3. "Esther Gonzalez-Arroyo Buckley (March 29, 1948 – February 11, 2013)", Laredo Morning Times, February 15, 2013, p. 10A
  4. "Class of 1945". Martin High School La Pitahaya yearbook. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  5. Erinn Taylor, "Dovalina's roots in education run deep", Laredo Morning Times, February 3, 2007, Supplement, pp. 2–4
  6. "Martin High honors 2008 Tiger legends" (PDF). Laredo Morning Times. April 23, 2008. p. 15A. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
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