[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E895-E896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF JUDGE OSCAR MARTINEZ, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2025

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Judge Oscar O. Martinez, Sr., a distinguished public servant, 
businessman, and lifelong resident of Laredo, Texas.
  Born in 1941 to Arnulfo and Adela Martinez, Judge Martinez graduated 
from Martin High School, attended Laredo Junior College and Texas A&I 
University in Kingsville, and proudly served his country in the United 
States Air Force.
  After his honorable discharge in 1969, he returned home, working 
first in radio sales before venturing into business with Martinez 
Brothers' Gulf Service Station. He later founded Border Realty, 
building a career in real estate that reflected his entrepreneurial 
spirit.
  In 1991, Judge Martinez was appointed Justice of the Peace for Webb 
County Precinct Four, and the voters returned him to office six more 
times. Over 24 years on the bench, he was a tireless advocate for the 
youth of our community.
  He co-founded the Texas Court Judges Association, directed the South 
Texas Justice of the Peace and Constable Association, and launched 
truancy prevention and disciplinary programs such as Parents' Against 
Crime, graffiti clean-up initiatives, and youth groups with city and 
county partners.
  His partnership with Border Patrol and IBC created the R.E.A.L. 
Mission Program, which served at-risk students in Laredo and was later 
expanded across the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso.
  Beyond the courtroom, Judge Martinez lived a life of faith and 
service. An active parishioner of St. Patrick Catholic Church, he was a

[[Page E896]]

longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Patrick's Men's 
Club.
  He devoted over four decades to LULAC serving as District 14 director 
and president of Council No. 12, co-founding the Senor Internacional 
program, and creating the ``Lo Mejor de lo Nuestro'' award.
  His dedication to youth and education earned him recognition from 
schools, civic organizations, and his peers, including honors such as 
``Tejano Achiever,'' Rotary's ``Service Above Self,'' the Laredo Bar 
Association's Liberty Bell Award, and the title of ``Tiger Legend.''
  He also gave 44 years of service to the Laredo International Fair and 
Exposition, where he was named ``Rancher of the Year,'' and was 
appointed by Governors Dolph Briscoe, Ann Richards, and George W. Bush 
to the South Texas Workforce Commission.
  He loved ranching at the family's Santa Teresa Ranch in Ramireno, 
where he spent his spare time.
  Judge Martinez retired in 2014, and in recognition of his lifetime of 
service, Webb County named the Precinct Four Justice Center in his 
honor.
  His legacy will be remembered in the youth programs he created, the 
civic institutions he strengthened, and the countless lives he touched.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life 
of Judge Oscar O. Martinez, Sr.--a devoted husband, father, veteran, 
public servant, and proud Laredoan who leaves behind a legacy of 
service above self.

                          ____________________