Crawford Martin
Encyclopedia
Crawford Collins Martin was a Texas State Senator
, Texas Secretary of State and Attorney General of Texas from 1967 until his death.
, Texas. He was educated in public schools and graduated in 1935 from Hillsboro Junior College. He graduated with a law degree from Cumberland Law School 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. In 1941, Martin married the former Margaret Ann Mash (born 1921 in Brandon
, also in Hill County, Texas). During World War II
, Martin enlisted in the United States Coast Guard
.
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.
Martin served in the Senate from 1949 to 1963. In 1962, he ran for lieutenant governor
but lost the Democratic nomination to future Governor Preston Smith. In 1963, Governor John B. Connally, Jr., appointed Martin as Texas Secretary of State, a position that he held until 1966, when he was elected attorney general, the position vacated by fellow Democrat Waggoner Carr
, who instead ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against the Republican
incumbent John G. Tower.
, 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.
Despite his record, Martin was defeated in the 1972 Texas Democratic primary in a re-election bid for a fourth two-year term by his successor as Secretary of State, John Luke 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.
Attorney General Crawford Martin died of a heart attack
on December 29, 1972, just three days before he was to leave office. He is interred at the Texas State Cemetery
in Austin.
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
, Texas Secretary of State and Attorney General of Texas from 1967 until his death.
Early life
Martin was born to Will M. Martin and the former Daisy Beavers in HillsboroHillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...
, Texas. He was educated in public schools and graduated in 1935 from Hillsboro Junior College. He graduated with a law degree from Cumberland Law School in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
after attending the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, first. He was admitted to the Texas bar in 1939 and commenced the practice of law with his brother, William, in Hillsboro. In 1941, Martin married the former Margaret Ann Mash (born 1921 in Brandon
Brandon, Texas
Brandon is an unincorporated community in Hill County in Central Texas. It is located at the intersection of State Highway 22 and FM 1243, approximately ten miles east of Hillsboro....
, also in Hill County, Texas). During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Martin enlisted in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
.
Mayor and state senator
After the war, Martin was elected mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Hillsboro. In 1948, he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Texas Senate representing District 12
Texas Senate, District 12
District 12 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves portions of Denton and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The current Senator from District 12 is Jane Nelson.-2006:-2002:-2000:-1996:...
, 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.
Martin served in the Senate from 1949 to 1963. In 1962, he ran for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Texas
The Lieutenant Governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas, a state in the U.S. It is the second most powerful post in Texas government because its occupant controls the work of the Texas Senate and controls the budgeting process as a leader of the...
but lost the Democratic nomination to future Governor Preston Smith. In 1963, Governor John B. Connally, Jr., appointed Martin as Texas Secretary of State, a position that he held until 1966, when he was elected attorney general, the position vacated by fellow Democrat Waggoner Carr
Waggoner Carr
Vincent Waggoner Carr was a Democratic Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and Attorney General of Texas.-Early years, education, military service:...
, who instead ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent John G. Tower.
Attorney General
Under Martin's leadership, the attorney general's office added antitrustAntitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
, consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
, 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.
Despite his record, Martin was defeated in the 1972 Texas Democratic primary in a re-election bid for a fourth two-year term by his successor as Secretary of State, John Luke Hill
John Hill (Texas politician)
John Luke Hill, Jr. , was a Texas lawyer, Democratic politician, and judge. He is thus far the only person to have served as Secretary of State of Texas, Texas Attorney General, and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court....
. 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
Sharpstown scandal
The Sharpstown scandal was a stock fraud scandal in the state of Texas in 1971 and 1972 involving the highest levels of the state government. The name came from the involvement of the Sharpstown area of Houston.-Background:...
. All were defeated by "reform" candidates.
Attorney General Crawford Martin died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on December 29, 1972, just three days before he was to leave office. He is interred at the Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
in Austin.