Crawford Collins Martin (March 13, 1916 – December 29, 1972) was a Texas State Senator, Texas Secretary of State and Attorney General of Texas from 1967 until his death.
After the war, Martin was elected Mayor of Hillsboro. In 1948, he was elected as a Democrat to the Texas Senate representing district 12, which his father had previously represented. The 12th district comprised all of the counties of Ellis, Hill, Hood, Johnson, Somervell in North Central Texas. During his fourteen-year career in the Senate he served on a number of committees, including Finance. He sponsored legislation in insurance reform and securities regulation, and he was elected president pro tem of the Senate in 1955. In addition, in 1957 he sponsored the state's first law requiring the registration of lobbyists.[2]
Martin served in the Senate from 1949 to 1963, when he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Texas. In that race, he was defeated by Preston Smith in the Democratic primary. The next year, however, Governor John Connally appointed Martin as Secretary of State. Martin served as Secretary of State until 1966 when he ran for and was elected Attorney General of Texas.[2]
Attorney General
Under Martin's leadership, the attorney general's office added antitrust, consumer protection, crime prevention, and water control divisions to its organization. Martin made drug abuse and organized crime a focus, and he was the first attorney general of any state to file successful litigation against commercial drug manufacturers for fixing the prices of antibiotics. By this action his office was able to recover more than $4,000,000 for Texas consumers. Through litigation, Martin's office established the Sabine River boundary between Texas and Louisiana, "thus preserving for Texas extremely valuable oil rights." Martin's activities as attorney general won him both state and national recognition.[2]
Despite his record, Martin was defeated in the 1972 Texas primary by his successor as Secretary of State, John Hill. Also going down to defeat were Governor Preston Smith, Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes and others tainted, for real or imaginary reasons, by the infamous Sharpstown scandal. All were defeated by "reform" candidates.[3]
Martin died of a heart attack on December 29, 1972, just three days before he was to leave office. He is buried in the State Cemetery in Austin.[1]
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Crawford Collins Martin March 13 1916 December 29 1972 was a Texas State Senator Texas Secretary of State and Attorney General of Texas from 1967 until his death Crawford MartinMember of the Texas Senate from the 12th districtIn office 1949 1963Preceded byA B CrawfordSucceeded byJ P WordTexas Senate President Pro TemporeIn office 1955 1956Preceded byDorsey B HardemanSucceeded byNeveille H ColsonSecretary of State of TexasIn office 1963 1966GovernorJohn ConnallyPreceded byP Frank LaneSucceeded byJohn Hill44th Attorney General of TexasIn office January 1 1967 December 29 1972GovernorJohn ConnallyPreston SmithPreceded byWaggoner CarrSucceeded byJohn HillPersonal detailsBornCrawford Collins Martin 1916 03 13 March 13 1916Hillsboro Texas U S DiedDecember 29 1972 1972 12 29 aged 56 Austin TexasResting placeTexas State Cemetery in AustinPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseMargaret Ann Mash Martin married 1941 1972 his death Residence s Hillsboro Texas Austin TexasAlma materHill College University of Texas at Austin Cumberland School of LawOccupationLawyer politicianMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch service United States Coast GuardBattles warsWorld War II Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 2 1 Mayor and state senator 2 2 Attorney General 3 References 4 External linksEarly life EditMartin was born to Will M Martin and Daisy Beavers Martin at Hillsboro Texas on March 13 1916 He was educated in the public schools attended Hillsboro Junior College graduating in 1935 He graduated with a law degree from Cumberland University s law school now the Cumberland Law School at Samford University in Tennessee after attending the University of Texas at Austin first He was admitted to the Texas bar in 1939 and commenced the practice of law with his brother William in Hillsboro Martin married Margaret Ann Mash in 1941 During World War II Martin enlisted in the United States Coast Guard 1 Political career EditMayor and state senator Edit After the war Martin was elected Mayor of Hillsboro In 1948 he was elected as a Democrat to the Texas Senate representing district 12 which his father had previously represented The 12th district comprised all of the counties of Ellis Hill Hood Johnson Somervell in North Central Texas During his fourteen year career in the Senate he served on a number of committees including Finance He sponsored legislation in insurance reform and securities regulation and he was elected president pro tem of the Senate in 1955 In addition in 1957 he sponsored the state s first law requiring the registration of lobbyists 2 Martin served in the Senate from 1949 to 1963 when he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Texas In that race he was defeated by Preston Smith in the Democratic primary The next year however Governor John Connally appointed Martin as Secretary of State Martin served as Secretary of State until 1966 when he ran for and was elected Attorney General of Texas 2 Attorney General Edit Under Martin s leadership the attorney general s office added antitrust consumer protection crime prevention and water control divisions to its organization Martin made drug abuse and organized crime a focus and he was the first attorney general of any state to file successful litigation against commercial drug manufacturers for fixing the prices of antibiotics By this action his office was able to recover more than 4 000 000 for Texas consumers Through litigation Martin s office established the Sabine River boundary between Texas and Louisiana thus preserving for Texas extremely valuable oil rights Martin s activities as attorney general won him both state and national recognition 2 Despite his record Martin was defeated in the 1972 Texas primary by his successor as Secretary of State John Hill Also going down to defeat were Governor Preston Smith Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes and others tainted for real or imaginary reasons by the infamous Sharpstown scandal All were defeated by reform candidates 3 Martin died of a heart attack on December 29 1972 just three days before he was to leave office He is buried in the State Cemetery in Austin 1 References Edit a b Texas State Cemetery obituary a b c Handbook of Texas online King Michael Sharpstown v Tomstown The Austin Chronicle March 5 2004 External links EditParty Honoring Crawford Martin Texas Archive of the Moving ImageTexas SenatePreceded byA B Crawford Texas State Senatorfrom district 12 Hillsboro 1949 1963 Succeeded byJ P WordPolitical officesPreceded byP Frank Lane Secretary of State of Texas1963 1966 Succeeded byJohn HillLegal officesPreceded byWaggoner Carr Attorney General of Texas1967 1972 Succeeded byJohn Hill Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crawford Martin amp oldid 1115843478, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
