During his 14-year tenure, from 1974 until 1988, Martinez created a hazardous materials team, opened several new fire stations and hired fire protection engineers to handle new, complex problems associated with a rapidly growing city.

Among his greatest accomplishments, said those who knew him, was his recruitment and hiring of black and female firefighters.

“The culture that he came in under, he was a true trailblazer,” said current Fire Chief Charles Hood. “He's opened the door for a lot of people, including myself, even though he didn't know it.”

The son of naturalized immigrants from Mexico, Martinez grew up a few blocks away from Fire Station No. 9 on the city's East Side, according to a history of the department written by former San Antonio firefighter Hector Cardenas.

Martinez studied drafting at the school then known as San Antonio Vocational and Technical High School (now Fox Tech) and graduated in 1942.

Immediately after graduation, he enlisted in the Army, and was stationed in North Africa and Italy during World War II. At the end of the war, he was part of the occupational force in the Philippines.

Afterward, in 1946, Martinez returned to his hometown and began work at a cabinet shop. He used his carpentry skills and built his own home on the East Side. While working at the shop, he met then-chief of firefighters Luther Mason, who talked him into joining the department.

Martinez joined in 1952 and began his career at Engine Co. No. 5, earning a promotion from then-Fire Chief Bart Mulhern in 1969.

He was named chief in 1974 and left the department when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Staff writer Eva Ruth Moravec contributed to this report.