Emilo's Biography (May 22, 1930- April 18, 2011)

In May 22 , 1930 A young couple named Arnulfo Martinez and Trinidad Martinez  gave birth to the child Emilio S. Martinez. He was the eldest of four brothers which were his sister Martha Colorado and his two brothers Pedro and Arnulfo Martinez.

During this time period Brownsville was going through a rich economy phase because it was used as a trade center for both Brownsville and Matamoros which is a city across the border in Mexico. Both of Emilio's Parents worked as cotton pickers in the fields of Brownsville and were being paid $0.60 cents per hundred pounds they would harvest. Due to the job opportunities his parents had Emilio's family economic status was not so great. Emilio started elementary school at the age of six at El Jardin school in 1936. (6911 Boca Chica Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78521

In the same year Emilio's father obtained a new job at the port of Brownsville which opened in may 15, 1936. 

Emilio was always astonished by the adventures he would hear from his dad at the port, that he started to appreciate a significant love for the ocean.

Emilio had family roots from Mexico which was mainly the reason why his family would go visit relatives every Sunday to Mexico. He loved to visit his family in Mexico mostly because he would get to see his cousins with whom he would play soccer all day that they would wake up sore from their bodies the next day. Emilio's favorite cousin was Miguel with whom he later shared memories such as winning his first soccer match and getting busted by their moms for doing something they weren't suppose to.  Another activity that Emilio used to love was going fishing with his family at South Padre Island during the weekends. For Emilio everything was perfect when he was around his family in front of the ocean watching the sunset and talking about nothing. 

One thing that Emilio enjoyed was reading the newspaper with his dad in the mornings, because of this Emilio would know things that happen outside Brownsville. 

One morning Mr. Arnulfo was reading to Emilio about The United States joining World War 2 on December 7, 1941 because of the bombing in Pearl Harbor.  That morning Emilio examined the face of his dad which it was covered with worry.  

The next week his dad decided to join the US Army and protect his country but most important his family.  Emilio was only 10 when his dad was sent to war  and from that day his courage  was not the same. The day Emilio's  father left, he told Emilio to take care of the family while  he was absent and to not worry for him that he would write every time he could. 

At the age of 11 Emilio started middle school at Central middle school, although it wasn't easy for him to get an education there due to his economic problem but with the money his dad would send, it was available. 

During his first year in middle school Emilio noticed that other kids would make fun of him for being poor but the respect and humbleness from both of his parents taught him not to feel down because not all kids had an education and he was fortunate for having one.  

Almost every 2 weeks or in some cases months, Emilio's father would send cards of how much he miss them and love them and they would send cards back asking about the war and how he was and that they miss him and were anxious for seeing him again.  

At the age of 12 Emilio knew what was happening around him. He knew the pain his mother felt everyday at night when she would cry for hours in the absence of her husband, he knew that his family needed money and a way of helping them would be by getting an education and finding a job in order to help his family and give an education to his younger brothers. 

At the age of 13 Emilio thought it would be helpful to help his mother to get money for the family, that being the case he went ahead in search for a job and obtained one  at The Miller Hotel 1307 E   Elizabeth St. as a dish washer. With the profit he would make, Emilio would buy the groceries for his family and for the first time he bought a book called "For Whom the Bells Tolls" which he would read over and over. Although Emilio was a remarkable student he couldn't keep up with his education

because of money problems that's the reason that he only finished middle school which at that time was a big success. At the age of 15 Emilio would wake up early to go to his job and then help people at the port hoping for someone to give him some money. One of Emilio's friends Jose had just gotten the notice that his dad got killed in the war. Emilio was in shock knowing that in anytime his dad could be next but he was also confident that his dad would get home safe. In September 2, 1945 one of the greatest events in humans history World War 2 had ended and this meant Emilio's dad was coming home. The waiting took 3 months in order for his dad to be with him again. The day he's father arrived, Emilio couldn't contain the heavy tears he had been holding for years for the absence of his beloved father. As the years passed, Emilio was more comfortable with his life because he had he's family reunited again and had found the love of his life named Concepcion at a festival in Brownsville called Charro's Days. Conception or how he used to call her "Connie" grabbed Emilio's attention at the first second he put sight on her, the way her hair moved while being blown  by the cold air of that afternoon. That day Emilio knew he had to do something in order to attract her attention therefore he took flowers to her house the next day which made her like him, At the age of 18 Emilio and Connie got married in October 12, 1948.
Emilio and Conception bought their first house in 1950 in Los Ebanos street Brownsville, later on that year they had their first daughter Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was the happiness of Emilio and Conception due to both of them wanting a child since a long time. At that time Emilio had a job as a construction worker in the city of Brownsville and Conception was studying to be a teacher. Emilio would visit his parents every weekend and still go fishing with his family, for him family symbolized the most important value in life.
In 1952 Connie gave birth to their second son Eddie. Emilio was overwhelmed with happiness because he wanted to have a son with whom he could share memories like the ones with his father. In the year 1954, Emilio joined the US Army just as his father and came back to his family in the year 1958. Emilio's experiences in the army helped him to obtain a better workplace. In 1959 Emilio joined the police department at Ft. Brown Administration building No.4 built 1867. At that time Connie worked as a teacher at Cummings Jr. High School and she was also about to give birth to his third child Emilio Jr.
At the age of 30 Emilio was a veteran, married, with 3 children and had his own house things were going good for him, until one day one of the persons that Emilio respected and loved the most died. Emilio's father was no longer with him and that was a tough moment for Emilio, 4 years later his lovely mom also gave her last breath.
The years went by and Emilio had to retire from his job as a police officer in 1967 due to an injury in his back. The next year Elizabeth graduated from High School, for Emilio that was one of the best days of his life  because he was so proud that his daughter graduated from High School where he would love to have graduated also. In the year 1974, Emilio and Concepcion became grandparents from her daughter Elizabeth who had a baby girl named Esmeralda, Emilio was happy about the news that all of his family went to Mexico to visit his family and share the please able news. In the year 1990 Emilio married his soulmate Concepcion for the second time and had now 3 grandchildren.
Unfortunately by 2000 Emilio was diagnosed with a tumor on his brain and with the help of chemo treatment and therapy he was able to endure until April 18, 2011 the day of his death.
Emilio was a humble person who always had his family in mind until the end, he now rests in peace at Garza Memorial Funeral waiting for his soul mate to lay next to him for the rest of time.

 At the age of 12, Emilio was already enjoying the celebration of Charro's Day parade in 1942.

This article was made when Emilio was only four years old, even though he was still a child, Emilio grew up in a time of war. 5 years later WW2 began.

Photo of school class presidents, Heraldo de Brownsville newspaper article 6 October 1939