[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20601]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IN LASTING MEMORY OF RAY BRAXTON MARTIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2005

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and 
legacy of Ray Braxton Martin. Ray died on August 21, 2005 in Pine 
Bluff, Arkansas. Born on November 23, 1919 in the town of Rison, 
Arkansas, Ray graduated as co-valedictorian with his twin brother, Roy, 
from Rison High School in 1937.
  Ray and his brother dedicated 31 years to Martin Brothers Gas 
Company. Ray is perhaps best remembered in Rison for his service to the 
Election Commission for nearly 35 years. It was imperative to Ray that 
local elections were carried out with the utmost integrity and honesty. 
Ray's impressive list of community activities include the 
Superintendent of Rison Baptist Church Sunday School where he was also 
a deacon, a 32nd degree Mason, past President of Arkansas Butane 
Association, and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Henderson 
State University. As you can see, Ray spent a lifetime giving back to 
his community.
  An avid Rison Wildcat football fan, Ray will be remembered by many in 
the Rison community for nearly six decades as the voice of the 
Wildcats. In 1995, Ray and his brother were honored for their 
dedication to the Rison School District when the school district 
designated a `Ray and Roy Martin Week' to honor a half century of 
service. Ray truly set a high bar of community service for us all to 
aspire to.
  Ray was a dear friend of mine and my heartfelt condolences go out to 
Ray's wife, Mary Ethel, their daughters, Cindy and Hilda; their 
grandsons, Marty, Russ, and Jason; and their great-granddaughters, 
Lindsey and Ella. While Jim may no longer be with us, his legacy and 
his spirit will always live on in all the lives he touched.

                          ____________________