Jerry Joe Martinez

Jerry Joe Martinez passed away peacefully at his home on April 10, 2026.
Jerry was born in Houston on July 31, 1936, to Joe and Estha Martinez, and remained a lifelong resident of Houston. He graduated from St. Anne Catholic School and St. Thomas High School before completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Houston and his master's degree at Texas Southern University.
Coach Martinez impacted countless lives of young men and women over his decades coaching and teaching, beginning his career at St. Anne Catholic School and later at St. Michael Catholic School, where he served as athletic director and even picked the school colors and mascot still used today. Jerry then joined the faculty and coaching staff at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, where he distinguished himself as the head coach of both the track & field and cross country teams as well as a senior assistant coach of the football team. Coach Martinez's track and cross country teams won numerous district and state titles during his tenure, and individual competitors and relay teams he coached were regularly ranked among the best in the state and nation. He loved to mention that the success of the seminal Strake Jesuit track and cross country teams predated the school having a track. Coach Martinez spent four years as the head track coach at Houston Baptist University (HBU), during which time HBU's Richie Thompson was the 1983 NCAA high jump champion - and the 1986 indoor 2-mile relay team posted the fastest time in the world. Jerry spent the last four decades of his career coaching track, cross country, and football at Lamar High School, where he reunited with one of his dearest friends and colleagues, Coach Tom Nolen. While at Lamar, Jerry also managed the cooperative education program (COOP), counseling students in an array of life skills and tapping his extraordinary network of friends to thoughtfully match them with Houston employers, with whom many would begin their careers after graduation.
Jerry had a larger than life personality and would be described as intense, passionate, and imposing - but always in furtherance of victory and motivating his athletes and students to push themselves beyond their limits. None ever doubted his love for them and commitment to doing all he could to bring out their best. His whistle and "words of encouragement" could be heard above the noise of every game and meet, even in a packed Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas during the zenith of the Texas Relays. Driven and spirited, Jerry quietly guided innumerable lives, especially those of some of his most vulnerable students and athletes.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Veronica Trujillo-Martinez; son, Jerry Martinez Jr. and his wife, Mandy; his sister and brother-in-law, De'Lores and Fred Warner Sr.; son-in-law, Kevin Gwinn; grandchildren, Carson Wardlow Martinez (Ty), Carmen Annette Martinez, Addison Martinez Posthuma (Justin), Mallory Martinez Campbell (Caidon), Cameron Mayotte Martinez, Margaret Ann Martinez, Gabrielle Rose Gwinn, and Graison Elizabeth Gwinn; great-grandchildren, Sterling Parker Martinez, Amelia Rose Martinez, and Drew Wynona Posthuma; sisters-in-law, Maria Trujillo Anderson and Rebeca Araceli Trujillo Jensen; and brothers-in-law, Daniel Trujillo Jr. and Robert Trujillo; nephew, Freddy Warner Jr. (Lara); and niece, Shannon Warner Guinther (Benjamin).
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Estha Martinez; his first wife, Rosemary Martinez; his daughters, Kellie Wardlow and Pilar Gwinn; his nephew, Joseph George Warner; and his father- and mother-in-law, Daniel and Amparo Trujillo.
A visitation and recitation of the Rosary will take place from 5:00 until 8:00 pm, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home, located at 1734 West Alabama Street in Houston.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 am, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Holy Rosary Church, located at 3617 Milam Street in Houston.
Pallbearers are Fred Warner Sr., Freddy Warner Jr., Benjamin Guinther, Kevin Gwinn, Carson Martinez, Justin Posthuma, Caidon Campbell, Daniel Trujillo, and Julius Michael.
Honorary pallbearers are the young men Coach Martinez impacted at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and Lamar High School.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Joseph George Warner Memorial Scholarship Fund at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.