 "Photo: Brian Hollingsworth")
In rememberance of the 40th anniversary of a shooting spree at The University of Texas on Aug. 1, 1966, the city of Austin named the day in honor of former Austin police officer Ray Martinez during a ceremony that took place at City Hall on Thursday.
"We recognize Mr. Martinez for his outstanding heroism on that day," Mayor Will Wynn said in a statement read by Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley.
On Aug. 1, 1966, Charles Whitman, a former Marine Corps sniper and UT student, climbed the University Tower and opened fire. During the rampage, Whitman killed 14 and wounded another 31. Martinez, along with Houston McCoy, another APD officer, sneaked onto the Tower's observation deck where the officers fired on Whitman. Martinez fired six rounds from his revolver. The autopsy report showed that Whitman was killed with McCoy's shotgun at point-blank range, although it is unclear which man fired the shot. Both men would later claim to be the one who killed Whitman.
"I'm proud," Martinez said in an interview at the Tower. "It's great any time someone remembers you, honors you."
Born on his grandfather's ranch outside of Abilene on Jan. 20, 1937, Ramiro "Ray" Martinez had a modest upbringing. His father, Manuel, moved the family to Rotan, Texas, when Martinez was in fifth-grade. After graduating from Rotan High School in 1956, Martinez attended UT-Austin. He was unable to continue because of financial concerns at home caused by severe droughts in the state.
Martinez decided to join the Army as a combat medic, serving in Germany. After three years of service, he left the military and joined the APD in 1960. Martinez graduated from the police academy on his birthday in 1961 and soon had his own beat as a patrolman. Later that same year he married Vernell Schmidtzensky, with whom he had twin daughters, Janette and Janice.
Martinez left APD and eventually joined the Texas Department of Public Safety's new narcotics division in Houston in 1969. Four years later, he joined the legendary Texas Rangers and was assigned to work in South Texas. While working for the Rangers, he assisted in the investigation that led to the arrest of political boss George Parr on charges of tax evasion. Martinez honorably ended his duty with the Texas Rangers in 1991 in New Braunfels, where he later served as a justice of the peace.
Councilman Michael Martinez introduced Ray Martinez, who received a standing ovation from those in attendance. Wynn and the other members of city council attended the ceremony.
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