James D. Martin

James D. Martin
Martin in 1965
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 7th district
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967
Preceded byCarl Elliott (redistricting)
Succeeded byTom Bevill
Personal details
BornJames Douglas Martin[1]
(1918-09-01)September 1, 1918
Tarrant, Alabama, U.S.
DiedOctober 30, 2017(2017-10-30) (aged 99)
Gadsden, Alabama, U.S.
PartyDemocratic (before 1962)
Republican (1962–2017)
SpousePatricia Martin[1]
Children3[1]
Alma materBirmingham School of Law

James Douglas Martin (September 1, 1918 – October 30, 2017) was an American politician.[2] A member of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967, representing Alabama's 7th congressional district.[3]

Life and career

Martin was born in Tarrant, Alabama, the son of Richard Martin, a railroad engineer, and Mary Graham, a teacher. He attended Birmingham School of Law, earning his law degree. After earning his degree, he served in the United States Army during World War II,[4] which during his service, he was trained in psychological warfare and interrogations at Camp Ritchie. Together with other Ritchie Boys, he arrived in Europe in December 1944, where he was assigned as an intelligence officer in George S. Patton's army of occupation,[5] until his discharge in 1946.[3]

In 1962, Martin ran as a Republican candidate for United States senator of Alabama. He received 195,134 votes, but lost to Democratic incumbent J. Lister Hill, who won with 201,937 votes.[6] In 1964, Martin was elected to Congress from Alabama's 7th congressional district. Along with Jack Edwards, William L. Dickinson, Glenn Andrews, and John H. Buchanan Jr., Martin was one of five Republicans elected that year, the first Republicans elected to Congress in the state since the end of Reconstruction.

Martin served in the United States House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967.[3] He lost his seat in the House, in 1966, when he ran as a Republican candidate for governor of Alabama. He received 262,943 votes, but lost to Democratic candidate Lurleen Wallace, who won with 537,505 votes.[7]

In 2009, Martin was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor.[8]

Death

Martin died on October 30, 2017, at his home in Gadsden, Alabama, at the age of 99.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, Sam (October 31, 2017). "James Martin, Who Spurred G.O.P. Gains in the South, Dies at 99". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ Reed, Roy (March 25, 1966). "REP. MARTIN JOINS ALABAMA CONTEST; Seeks G.O.P. Nomination for the Governorship". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "MARTIN, James Douglas". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  4. ↑ "James Douglas Martin". U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Retrieved June 15, 2025 – via Ancestry.com. Closed access icon (subscription required)
  5. ↑ Cartwright, J. B. (2024). The Quiet Contingent: An Addendum on WWII: The Boys of Camp Ritchie. pp. 339–341. ISBN 979-8893793222.
  6. ↑ "1962 Senatorial General Election Results - Alabama". United States Election Atlas. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  7. ↑ "AL Governor - Governor - General Election". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  8. ↑ "James Douglas Martin". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
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