BY MARY JANE FARMER

HERALD DEMOCRAT

A bit of Grayson County history dimmed Thursday with the passing of former Grayson County Attorney and long-time Sherman lawyer Dean Martin.

Mr. Martin was 101 years old. He spent more than half his life in the courtroom, combining his unique fiery passion with gentle compassion. He called himself "just a country lawyer" shortly before his 100th birthday, and that definition is echoed by some who remembered him well.

Family and friends also remember Mr. Martin's strong Christian faith and the ways he put that into practice.

"He wanted everybody else to have the same (Christian) experience he had had, and talked with everyone about it," former Grayson County Judge Horace Groff said. "He had a great belief in people.

"I have seen the wives of men who were in jail come in and plead with Mr. Martin about their destitute circumstances and he would open his wallet and give them money to buy groceries for their kids. He showed that kind of compassion toward people," said Groff.

Mr. Martin was born Feb. 11, 1908 in Elk City, Okla. After his public schooling, he began studying law at Oklahoma University, but quickly found himself out of funds. He said in a 2008 interview that he had learned the barber trade from his father, and cut hair to raise money, later obtaining his law degree from the now-defunct Dallas Law School. From that, he said, he learned the skill of making the best of things.

After school, Mr. Martin shortly changed careers, having become involved with the United States military and finding himself stationed at Perrin Air Force Base. It was at lunch in Sherman one day when he met Geneva Margaret Graham, and they married in 1945. They had two daughters, Katha Winther and Betty Perdue, and one son, Michael Martin, who passed away before Mr. Martin. There are also a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mrs. Martin also survives him.

Mr. Martin remained in Grayson County after leaving the military, around the late 1940s, and set up his law practice.

Then, in 1959, he was appointed to the Grayson County Attorney's Office to serve out Boyd Newman's term after Mr. Newman died.

Groff remembers that Mr. Martin's staff in the early 1960s consisted of Mr. Martin, two assistants and two secretaries. One of those, Groff added, was Martha Sutherland, who joined the County Attorney's Office in December 1962. She passed away only days ago.

Voters returned Mr. Martin to that office twice before he decided in 1968 to not seek re-election. While in office, he served in 1965 as president of the Grayson County Bar Association.

Groff said of Mr. Martin and his courtroom style, "Dean was a country lawyer. It was interesting to watch his courtroom mannerisms and the inflections in his voice, especially when others around him were yelling."

Another Grayson County attorney and former county Democratic Party Chairman Jack Kennedy said he came to the area in 1954. "Dean was with the County Attorney's Office when I began practicing," Kennedy said. "We never worked on the same side. He was the prosecutor and I was the defense.

"I tried many cases opposed to him in the courts, and always found him to be a most able, sincere, and dedicated trial lawyer," Kennedy added. "He was a good trial lawyer and he was a nice, honest guy."

After leaving office, Mr. Martin continued in private practice until 2001, concentrating during his later years on probate and real estate, he said in the 2008 interview.

Services for Mr. Martin are pending with Waldo Funeral Home.

Herald Democrat Assistant City Editor Jerrie Whiteley contributed to this report.