KAY ELLINGTON AND BARBARA BRANNON
For more than twentyfive years one of the signal honors in Texas high school football has been induction into the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
On July 1, Ricky Martinez of the Jayton-Girard ISD Class of 1986 will become the second player in the school’s history to join that elite roster. He follows in the footsteps of the Jaybirds’ first player/ coach to be inducted, Trey Richey (HOF 2004), under whom he also served as assistant coach during the Borden County Coyotes’ two championships, and coach Wilford “Sonny” Arthur (HOF 2006).
The induction ceremony is slated for the evening of Saturday, July 1, in Wichita Falls, during halftime of the Division I All-Star football game, according to Martinez’ wife, Jodi Thomason Martinez of Spur.
“Our Spurette daughter Paige has also been selected to play in the All-Star basketball game at noon on that Saturday,” said Jodi Martinez. “It is a great honor for our family to have both dad and daughter recognized.”
Ricky Martinez played on Jayton’s only two football State Champion teams, in 1984 and 1985. He started both ways for the Back-to-Back State Champion Jaybirds during those seasons: defensively at cornerback and offensively at quarterback. He was the punter in 1984 and 1985, had kickoff duties in 1984, and handled all kicking duties in 1985.
In 1984, as a junior, Martinez was First Team All-District Linebacker, First Team All-District Punter, Second Team All District Quarterback, First Team All-South Plains Punter, First Team All-Region Linebacker and First Team All-State Linebacker.
In 1985, as a senior, he was First Team All-District Linebacker, First Team All-District Punter, Second Team All-District Quarterback, First Team All-South Plains Punter, First Team All-Region Linebacker and First Team All-State Linebacker.
Ricky has been engaged in youth sports since graduating high school in 1986.
Regardless of sport, he was active in assisting with programs, volunteering in associations, or coaching different sports for youth. In 2004, Ricky Martinez had an idea of beginning a kids’ program to introduce and teach young people and adults about six-man football. He started the Spur Pee Wee football program that still exists today by establishing a nonprofit organization and creating a Pee Wee football program for boys and girls.
“Every school district in the region was invited,” according to preparatory notes for his induction, “with students participating from Afton, Quitaque, Valley, Guthrie, Paducah, Motley County, Roaring Springs, Spur, Crosbyton, White River Lake, Jayton and Aspermont. Each Saturday saw an average of 80 kids enjoying six-man football at Jones Stadium in Spur. The program continued to grow and thrive with participation and support from every community. When Martinez retired from leading the football program in 2011, he calculated that near 600 students and 1,200 parents were able to experience the Saturday morning fun of pee wee football. The program continues today.”
Martinez grew up in Jayton, the son of Jayton residents Monica and Elmo Martinez. After high school, he pursued and received a degree in telecommunications and began a career with a local Lubbock television affiliate as well as Texas Tech Athletics, ESPN and ABC Sports. In 1994, he joined CEV Multimedia in Lubbock, developing, producing and selling educational multimedia programs to educational institutions that included 82 national and 13 international distributors.
Later career moves took him to Cap Rock Telephone Cooperative, Spur ISD, Borden County ISD. Martinez currently resides in Abilene, Texas, with his wife, Jodi. They have two sons, Jordan and Korbin; two future daughters-in-law, CJae and Riana; and two daughters, Hanna and Paige.
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