To the family of Henry Martinez,
Henry was a friend. He normally wore a smile and seemed to me, to enjoy life. We missed him at our last Knippa High School reunion we had at San Antonio. When I say we missed him, it is true, for I know I did. I did my best to contact him through the family but was unable to do so.
Strangely enough, one of the memories of Henry that has persisted through the years is of a football game. I don't remember who we were playing, but Henry was given the ball. Henry could run fast and was tough. I was the other back and my job was to block for him. He ran to the right, but a player on the opposite team came at him. Henry quickly turned back my direction, slipped past me, and I blocked the guy chasing him. But, as fortune would have it, an opponent was coming at him from that direction. Again, he turned, ran past me and I blocked that guy. Seriously, he encountered another opponent coming at him. Once more, he turned, ran past me and I blocked the guy. This happened three times! I honestly don't remember how the play ended, but I do remember the efforts Henry was putting into taking the ball down the field.
I express my sympathy to you, his family and friends. I see his picture here on this same page and through it, I see a seventeen year old fellow student who loved sports, wore a smile and got along well with those around him. He is the fourth of our Knippa High School class to pass from this life. His friend, Alton Heine, John Ortiz and Archie Carter are gone. I truly hope his passing was not with a lot of suffering and pain from cancer or other long enduring illnesses. May you, as family and friends, find healing in the good memories of Henry and in the healing hand of God.