Dr. Royce West Martin
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Roy W. Martin Middle School first opened its doors to students in 1959 and has been going strong ever since. Over the years the school has seen many changes from building renovations to new academic programs as well as a new building in 2008. But one thing has remained constant, Colt Pride is here to stay. The school's namesake is Dr. Royce Wood Martin, born November 16, 1874 in Table Rock, NE. Dr. Martin was one of the first doctors to stay in the newly developing Nevada town of Las Vegas, Nevada. He had no plans of staying in Las Vegas when he first arrived; as he was only waiting for the next train to leave for the town of Rhyolite. But after an unbeatable offer to buy another doctor's practice for $10, money he later secured by winning a foot race, he could not help but rethink his original feelings. The decision paid off as he made a name for himself in the community over the next 38 years of his life. The accomplished Las Vegan was a country doctor who mostly attended to wounded patients and delivered babies. He went on to serve as chief surgeon for the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad, establish the Las Vegas Hospital Association, and opened a hospital. Later in his career, Dr. Martin became a real estate investor, member of the Clark County Republican Committee, Republican delegate at the state convention, and ardent advocate for improving intrastate and interstate roads. THE DR. ROYCE WEST MARTIN STORYDr. Roy W. Martin graduated from medical school in Kansas City in 1903. He went to Monterrey, Mexico for a year to combat an epidemic of Yellow Fever. Dr. Martin heard about Goldfield, a thriving mining town, and headed for Nevada. He came to Las Vegas in 1905 and stayed. Though not the first doctor in Las Vegas, Dr. Martin was the first to have a private practice. The doctor who preceded him was Dr. Halle Hewetson, employed by the Union and Pacific Railroad yards. It is reported that the Dr. Hewetson's first office was an 8’ x 10’ tent in the Recreation Area of Stewart and Third Streets. His second facility was in a store building near the railroad yards. It consisted of eight to ten beds and a makeshift operating room. Dr. Martin used these facilities until he moved into his office hospital at First and Fremont in June of 1906. In partnership with W.E. Ferron, he started the White Cross Drug Store downstairs that same year. In 1917, he moved in to the first two story building in Las Vegas—the remodeled Palace Hotel on North Second Street was known as “The Las Vegas General Hospital.” In 1931, Dr. Martin built the “new” Las Vegas Hospital at Eighth and Ogden. On September 27, 1909, Dr. Martin married his childhood sweetheart, Nellie Cotton in Nebraska. She was a talented pianist who studied at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. The couple returned to Las Vegas to settle and rear a family. They had two daughters, Frances and Mazie. In addition to his contributions to the medical profession, Dr. Martin was a community leader with special interests in politics and real estate. In the 1920’s and 1930’s he was president of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Elks Lodge. He belonged to the Eagles Lodge, the Rotary Club, and, in 1922, the Nevada Assembly. In the early 1930’s, the doctor held the position of Health Officer for Clark County. Dr. Martin owned the Boulder Realty Company and the Security Building and Loan Association. During this time, he was also a vocal contributor to the Clark County Republican Party. In 1938, he was named chairman of the Republican Caucus. One of his top priorities was improving roads in Las Vegas. He worked with Governor James Scrugham in the 1920’s to get the road paved from Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada. He also foresaw a need for hydroelectric power in Clark County and, as a member of the Colorado River Commission during the 1930’s, played an important role in the realization of this plan with the building of Boulder Dam, now known as Hoover Dam. Dr. Martin continued to serve the people of Las Vegas until his death in 1943 at the age of 65. We are proud to have our school named after such a distinguished early pioneer and civic leader. Source: |