marcos martinez, jr

West of the Pecos Rodeo Director, Reeves County Commissioner, Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame Director, and Calf Roper
1934-2018

Marcos Jr. was born the second of three children to Marcos Sr. and Manuela Natividad Martinez on August 14, 1934, in Saragosa, Texas. Marcos attended elementary and high school in Pecos, Texas and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He was known to his family and friends as “Junior”. Junior married the love of his life, Mae Fitzgerald, on November 23, 1953. They had three children, Jimmy Martinez, Marcos Joe Martinez, and Brenda Martinez McKinney. He was a veteran and served in the United States Army stationed in Germany and four years as an Army Reserve.

In his younger years, Junior competed in many rodeos and jackpots, with calf and team roping being his specialty. He was the exceptional horseman and was well known for his speed on the ground, consistency with a rope, and trained his calf and team roping horses.  Junior took up team roping and loved “spinning one” for his partners and competed in the West of the Pecos Rodeos as far back as the 1950’s.  Martinez was a key figure in the West of the Pecos Rodeo and served as a Rodeo Director and Advisor for the Rodeo Committee for well over 30 years.  As Reeves County Commissioner for Precinct 1, Junior served for 16 years and spearheaded many of the improvements to the Buck Jackson Arena, as the sport of rodeo was near and dear to his heart.  He also served as a Director for the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Junior loved his family, God, and the sport of rodeo. He could always be found working the chutes pushing up cattle or doing whatever needed to be done.  Even when Junior became physically unable to work, he was still right there in the middle of it all.  For instance, one year at the West of the Pecos Classic Team Roping, Junior pulled his Kubota into the middle of the arena to make sure the boys were running everything up to par and to make sure he did not miss a spin.  No one questioned Junior being in the arena that day and respectfully rode around him and his new “Metal Stead”.   

His lifelong passion was operating and caring for Three Bar Farm and Ranch for over 50 years. Started by his father in 1949, Marcos continued the western tradition his father instilled in him. 

Marcos passed away on May 27, 2018, in Pecos, Texas.