Oak Ridge High School Class of 1966

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10-18-2010 - Coach Ben Martin father of Jeanie Martin 1966 inducted into TSSAA Hall of Fame

Ben Martin named to TSSAA Hall
Martin coached football, basketball and track and field while teaching at Oak Ridge High School in the 1940's.
Posted Oct 07, 2010 @ 09:00 AM

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. â€” Oak Ridge High School has produced many exceptional people. This past spring the TSSAA Hall of Fame recognized one of those exceptional people -- coach Ben Martin. TSSAA formally recognized and inducted Ben Martin into the Hall of Fame -- the first Oak Ridger to receive the honor.
Martin is credited with forming the Oak Ridge High School athletic department in the 1943. He was hired to teach physical education and coach football, basketball and track at the new high school. As an alumni of the University of Kentucky, Martin took his beloved college squad's mascot and used the colors from Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett High School to make up Oak Ridge's athletic identity.
His most notable coaching achievements were in track and field between 1952 and 1962. His teams won seven state championships as well as one second- and two-third places finishes.
Ron Taylor -- who ran track for Martin in 1952 and '53 and assisted in coaching the 1956 through '58 teams -- said, "I found him to be an outstanding coach and person when I ran for him and coached with him. He attempted to teach character and sportsmanship, as well as win. I have never seen a coach who knew as much as him."
Upon Martin's retirement from ORHS in 1971, an editorial in The Oak Ridger highlighted his career:
"Ben managed it all, and produced state championship teams in abnormal numbers within the city's first decade. And through it all he has remained one of the most personable, friendly, warm persons the community has ever known.
"Ben has had an influence on thousands of Oak Ridge young people -- an influence for immense good."
Current ORHS football and track coach Winston Russell provided a nomination letter to the TSSAA Hall of Fame that stated: "Coach Ben Martin was a person who influenced me as a student, an athlete and in my chosen profession as a teacher and coach.
"This man started and established the rich heritage and traditions that still stand in Oak Ridge High School athletics. I am only one of the literally thousands of students which Coach Martin had a dramatic impact on their lives."
Over the course of his career, Martin held winning records in all sports at each school where he coached. His most notable coaching achievements were in track and field. From 1952 to 1962, his teams won seven state championships, as well as a runner-up and two third-place finishes. During his time as athletic director, ORHS won 14 state championships in all sports -- seven in track, four in football, two in basketball, and one in tennis.
In 1976, Martin was given the Distinguished Service Award from the East Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. The Oak Ridge Board of Education honored Martin in 1979 by naming the track located on the ORHS campus Ben Martin Track and Field.
In 1986, Martin was inducted as a founding member of the Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame.
"There aren't enough words to be said about him, he has just devoted his whole life to the helping of young people," said Jack Cornett, an outstanding athlete who ran track and played basketball at ORHS under Martin in the early '50s. "I don't know any man that I know or respect more than Ben Martin."
"To me, Coach Martin has been, and will always be, a tribute to the coaching and teaching profession," said Jackie Pope, an ORHS All-American in football in the 1950s. "But best of all he always had the time to devote to you no matter what your problem or who you were. This type attitude carried over from the field to his classroom. Coach Martin's election (to the TSSAA Hall of Fame) is a long time coming and he as Mr. Oak Ridge High Athletics should certainly be the first for this milestone."
Martin's son, Bob, who was pinned by Earl Nall, TSSAA Hall of Fame member and former student of Ben Martin, accepted the award on behalf of his father.
"TSSAA Hall of Fame is full of coaches, administrators, contributors and officials that have shaped high school sports in Tennessee," Nall said. "I am thrilled that (coach Martin) is finally being recognized for the things he did for Oak Ridge and high schools in Tennessee."
Before coming to Oak Ridge, Martin worked at Norris High School, where he became the first basketball coach at the school in 1940 and continued coaching there into 1943. After retiring from Oak Ridge, Martin had spent 38 years in the teaching and coaching professions.
Lazybones2 weeks
I played football for three years under Coach Martin. He was one of a kind. It was'nt until I went into the military that I really appreciated the things that he had taught me. Whenever I was in a tough situation I always thought of his teachings to pull me through. I have never known anyone to equal him. A well deserved honor.
durango6 days ago
The honor was long overdue. He should have been in the Hall 50 years ago.
Now, we need to get Ira Green, Jim Helton, Jack Armstrong and Emory Hale in the Hall
volpower6 days ago

I agree with Durango...long overdue!
tnbirdlegs6 days ago
'Is Coach Martin still alive? Article says he coached and taught for 38 years after '71. That would make his last year of teaching 2009. Is that right?'
Sadly, Coach Ben Martin passed away (in the late seventies). The article uses the word 'after' instead of upon...in the last sentence. Coach Martin was a coach, teacher, and athletic director for 38 years total.
wildcat895 days

An outstanding individual. I will always remember him with a twinkle in his eye. I did not know him until he was almost retired from ORHS. But he still stopped and talked with all of the students, all the time. Always had a kind or encouraging word for everyone. He was one of those coaches who got the best out of his athletes with praise and encouragement, rather than the yelling and screaming that seems to be so popular today. Also, Coach Ben was someone who loved what he did so much......for him, it was a joy to teach and coach. As Coach Russell said, Coach Ben was such an inspiration.

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