Clarence D. Martin

Who was Clarence D. Martin?

Clarence Daniel Martin was the 11th Governor of the state of Washington. A Democrat, he served two terms from 1933 to 1941.

Martin was born and raised in Cheney in eastern Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1906, and joined his father in running the Cheney Grain and Milling Company. From 1928 to 1936 Martin was the mayor of Cheney, and while still in office, was elected governor of the state of Washington in 1932. He was known as the "people's governor" for his strict frugality in government spending and oversaw large economic projects such as the Grand Coulee Dam to put people to work during the Great Depression.

He married Margaret Mulligan of Spokane in 1907 and they had three sons. Martin died in 1955 at the age of 69 and is buried at the Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane.

Martin Stadium and Academic Center, the football stadium at Washington State University in Pullman, was named in his honor at its opening in 1972.