Al Martinez, who ran the Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County for two decades, has died. He was 82 years old.
Martinez was a Salinas resident, but he had ties to the San Benito County business community for about 30 years. From 1988 to 2008, he was executive director of the EDC. He held the post until his retirement in 2008, when another former EDC director, Nancy Martin, took on the role.
Before his time at the EDC, Martinez had worked for a metal manufacturer in Hollister as well and served as president of the chamber of commerce board.
Martinez passed away Thursday. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Madonna del Sasso Church, 320 E. Laurel Drive, Salinas.
His son on Monday, Adrian Martinez, said his ability to communicate with people helped him to develop his career roots here.
“He was truly a people person,” he said.
Martinez was particularly proud of using that personality to help recruit new businesses to the Hollister area such as Marich Confectionery and Corbin Motors. His son said his work in San Benito County “was extremely important to him” and “very fulfilling.”
Herman Fehl was a county job-training employee before his retirement in 1997 and remembered working well with Martinez.
“He was really a great guy,” Fehl said. “He did a lot of work for the county.”
