Gilbert Daniel Martinez, 49, of Crossroads, died Friday April 6, 2007, as the result of an auto accident in western Denton County.
Mr. Martinez was born November 1, 1957 in Montebello, California to Ruben C. and Grace R. (Romo) Martinez. He was married to Gail R. Clark on August 14, 1977 in Bell, CA. He made the Football All-American list – achieving the most valuable offensive lineman and team captain for San Jose State University; making the NFL Hughes-Palmer draft list in 1978; and winning Northern California Super Heavyweight Power Lifting Champion in 1983. He had served as Mayor Pro-Tem for the city of Corinth; was active in the chamber of commerce in Aubrey; was former chair of the Denton Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a LULAC member; member of the Denton Rotary Club; the Civic Leaders for Exemplary Education; the Denton Sister Cities Committee; the Denton Multicultural Council; the Denton / Wise County Board of Realtors; the Argyle Chamber of Commerce; the Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce; a Denton City Council Appointed Task Force member; past Executive Board member for Habitat for Humanity; past Executive Board member for the Owsley Project; past Commissioner on the Denton County Grand Jury; past Board member for the United Way of Denton; past Vice-Chairman for SPAN; past president and chairman for the City of Corinth Economic Development Corp.; and was appointed to the Denton Housing Authority Board. He was a mortgage banker for over twenty years, most recently at Pulaksi Mortgage.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM Tuesday April 10, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Denton.
Survivors include his son, Marty Martinez of Lewisville; mother, Grace R. Martinez of Norwalk, CA; brothers, Ruben Martinez, Jr. of Whittier, CA, Edward S. Martinez of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and family dog, Duncan.