Jose Saul Martinez

Jose "Coach Saul" Martinez, age 70, of Amarillo, finished his season on June 18, 2024.

The family will receive guests on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia.

The funeral will be Friday, June 21, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Schooler Funeral Home, with Rev. Greg Corona of Hillside Christian Church officiating. Burial will be at Llano East Cemetery, where Volleys for Veterans will provide military honors.

Saul, born in Encarnacion de Diaz, Jalisco, Mexico, on January 15, 1954, was orphaned at a young age and adopted by Luis and Iris Martinez. His journey to the US in 1962 marked the beginning of a life dedicated to service. After graduating from Tascosa High School, he then served in the US Army from 1972 until 1976 in Germany during the conclusion of Vietnam. His service was not only recognized with the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal, but it also shaped his character, instilling in him a sense of discipline and commitment that he carried throughout his life.

As a young man, Saul worked as a chef for his father at Chef Luis, the family's restaurant, and as a heating and air technician with Four Seasons Heating and Air. In 1981, Saul started a career with Southwestern Bell that would last almost thirty years, and he retired in 2010. As a customer service technician, Saul would often be in the alleys and backyards of his customers, and many times, Saul saw four-legged friends who needed his help, and he did. Debbie joked that he had to retire from AT&T because there was no more room at their house for rescues, and at one time, they had twenty-two!

Saul wouldn't want to be remembered for anything but baseball. It's not that he wasn't proud of his military service, long tenure at AT&T, or even his kind heart when it came to puppies, but baseball, his team, the Amarillo Braves, was his heart. Saul built his own "field of dreams" on his property so that the game was always accessible to the players. He lived and breathed baseball, and because of that passion and commitment to the game, his legacy will live on in the many players he coached who went on to play High School and College Ball. Saul's dedication to the Amarillo Braves and the discipline he instilled in his players laid the foundation for numerous sporting and academic scholarships.

 While Saul's dedication to baseball was undeniable, his love for his family was equally profound. He cherished each of his children and grandchildren, but his pride for his grandson Mason, who attended college on a baseball scholarship and has a bright future in the sport, playing in an upcoming MLB Tournament, and his granddaughter Lela, who excelled in Academics, was immeasurable.

He was preceded in death by his father, Luis; by his birthmother, Adela; brother, George; and his daughter, Sarah Martinez.

Saul is survived by his wife, Debbie; mother, Iris Burrows; his sisters, Irma, Araceli, Lula, Ralphie, and Marsha; two daughters, retired Lt. Col. Samantha Martinez and Jennifer Martinez; his son, Anthony Martinez; five grandchildren, Mason Martinez and Lela Hearn; Michael Martinez, Charlie Luque-Martinez and Bethany Jones; and the mother of his children, Kimberly Martinez; his great-granddaughter, Kenlee Martinez; and by eight of his furry four-legged family members.