Clarence D. Martin
Clarence Daniel Martin (June 29, 1886 – August 11, 1955) was an American politician who served as the 11th governor of Washington from 1933 to 1941. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Washington House of Representatives in 1944 and was the first governor born in the territory of the state.
Clarence D. Martin | |
|---|---|
| 11th Governor of Washington | |
| In office January 11, 1933 – January 15, 1941 | |
| Lieutenant | Victor A. Meyers |
| Preceded by | Roland H. Hartley |
| Succeeded by | Arthur B. Langlie |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 5th district | |
| In office February 28, 1944 – January 8, 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Donald B. Miller |
| Succeeded by | George H. Johnston |
| 1st Mayor of Cheney, Washington | |
| In office April 1, 1928 – April 1, 1936 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | William Thomas "Tom" Trulove |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clarence Daniel Martin June 29, 1886 Cheney, Washington Territory, U.S. |
| Died | August 11, 1955 (aged 69) Cheney, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Margaret Mulligan
(m. 1907; div. 1943)Merle L. Lewis
(m. 1944; div. 1946)Lou Eckhart (m. 1951) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Washington (BA) |
Martin was born and raised in Cheney in the Washington Territory. He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1906, and joined his father in running the Cheney Grain and Milling Company. From 1928 to 1936 Martin was the mayor of Cheney. While still in office, he ran for and was elected in 1932 as governor of the state of Washington. He was known as the "people's governor" for his strict frugality in government spending, but he also oversaw large economic projects, such as the Grand Coulee Dam, to put people to work during the Great Depression.
He married Margaret Mulligan of Spokane in 1907, and they had three sons. Martin died in 1955 at the age of 69 and is buried at the Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane.
Martin Stadium and Academic Center, the football stadium at Washington State University in Pullman, was named in his honor at its opening in 1972.