Ernest Martinez

Ernest A. Martinez, 85, of Questa, New Mexico, passed away on November 24, 2019.  Ernest is preceded in death by his parents Eliz and Candido Martinez and stepfather Fred Martinez, along with his brothers Modesto Martinez and Joseph Martinez, sisters Stella Martinez (Barela) and Victoria Martinez (Rodriguez).  He is survived by his brother Felipe Martinez, sisters-in-law Gloria Martinez and Elva Martinez and brother-in-law Richard Rodriquez, his son Ronald Martinez and daughters Gina Martinez and Linda Martinez-Battey, son-in-law Richard Battey, daughter-in-law Lucy Carson and grandchildren Allyson Martinez, Sara Martinez, Benjamin Martinez, Jessica Kroekel and Jonathan Battey.

A morning Rosary will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 9 AM at St. Anthony’s Church in Questa, NM, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 AM and burial at San Pedro Cemetery.  Friends, family and other acquaintances are also invited for a luncheon hosted by the Circle of Friendship at the VFW Hall in Questa following the ceremonies.   

Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home, Taos.  To share a memory please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com

Ernesto A. Martinez, born and raised in Questa, his first job herding sheep at the age of six in the Pinabete Hills and working in the fields in Colorado.  After his father died in 1945, he worked in Red River during the summer, eventually becoming the manager at the Black Mountain Place House.  Sometime later he moved to Santa Fe and then to Denver with $20 in his pocket where he worked construction the summer of 1952.  He came back to finish high school at Questa High School in 1953.  After high school graduation, he returned to Denver, working construction during the day and went to college at night.  He studied engineering and drafting and graduated in 1956.

After going with Glenda Martinez for three years, they were married in June 1956.  Soon thereafter Ernesto got drafted into the U.S. Army.  After completing basic training, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia and Glenda joined him in Columbus, Georgia.  He described Glenda as the “most beautiful and truthful Hispanic Lady and in Colorado”.

Ernesto was assigned to the Continental Army Command in charge of testing radar for the U.S. Army.  He flew to Arizona frequently and supervised a crew of seven soldiers.  He admired the way the Notre Dame cadets demonstrated the weapons, which inspired him to enroll in night classes for public speaking with commissioned officers.  Along with public speaking, he took English and math courses.  All this time, soldiers were being shipped off to the Korean war.

After Ernesto’s discharge, they moved back to Denver where he was employed by the Martin Marietta Aerospace Corporation(MMC).  He worked there for 15 years and became a supervisor in charge of missile wiring, including the three stages that took people to the moon, receiving numerous commendations.  Later, he was in charge of microelectronics packing design, receiving commendations for that as well.

While working for MMC, he enrolled in real estate classes and received his broker’s license to sell real estate.  At that time, there were only two Hispanic owned real estate companies in Denver and his was one of them. He was the owner, president and broker of Queen City Realty.

In 1974, there was an opening at Colorado State Parks for a land negotiator and Ernesto got the position.  Ernesto became the land grant officer for Colorado State Parks.  At that time, he was the only Hispanic employee at the Colorado State Parks system.

With the Sate Parks Ernesto, or Ernie as he was known, was responsible for the acquisition of 14 State Parks in Colorado and was featured in numerous articles in newspapers and magazines.  He had many professional accomplishments and his job was very complicated, involving recreation, scenic development and municipal rights.  Water rights and adjudication was a big part of his work.  Ernesto facilitated many land donations to the state parks system.  He received numerous awards, certificates and commendations, including 1975 Parks Person of the Year and several LULAC awards.  Ernesto was instrumental in the success of passing Senate legislation for Conservation Easements for the State of Colorado.  Over the years he worked with highly skilled and professional people and put together winning teams to accomplish great things.  Ernesto says he had a lot of help and they deserve credit, especially the planning departments, park managers and field operations personnel, too numerous to mention by name.

Ernesto is preceded by his three children and five grandchildren.  He son, Ronald graduated with honors from Columbia University, majoring in finance.  He lives in Colorado Springs and is chairman of the Ent Credit Union.  Ernesto’s daughter Gina was a manager for Sunrise Senior Living for 10 years on the East Coast before moving back to Denver and is currently their Resident Service Director for Colorado.  Ernesto’s daughter Linda Martinez Battey also lives in Denver and recently retired as a GS 12 after twenty five years with the U.S. Geological Survey, as a financial specialist.

Due to asthma Ernesto took early retirement in 1987 and moved back to Questa.  He spent winters in Tucson, Arizona for nine years.  He played the guitar and was a member of four different musical groups.   Ernesto played guitar at St. Anthony’s Church for many years.

Ernesto Martinez, un vecino de Questa, had given our community a lot to be proud of.  His many professional accomplishments through various careers proved that with a lot of hard work and a strong foundation in small-town upbringing, one can do great things in the world.

The preceding was sourced from an original article published by the Questa Del Rio News in November 2019.