By: Donald V. Watkins
Copyrighted and Published on March 27, 2025
An Editorial Opinion
Robert Archer Martin was one of the greatest men in Alabama history. I knew him as Bob Martin. This is his story.
Bob Martin began his newspaper career with The Florence Times of Florence, Alabama (now known as The Times Daily) while attending Florence State University, (now the University of North Alabama). As a college student, Bob began in the mail room, worked in circulation and started covering high school football games. He became a sports reporter and eventually sports editor. He continued to advance at The Times ultimately becoming its executive editor.
In 1972, Bob Martin, with his family in tow, followed newly elected Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Howell Heflin to Montgomery where Bob began a 25-year career with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) working under Chief Justices Heflin, C.C. “Bo” Torbert, Sonny Hornsby, and Perry Hooper, Sr. In 1989, Bob earned his Juris Doctor from Jones School of Law.
Throughout his career in both the newspaper business and as director of the state courts, Bob became friends with and met many important figures in Alabama and around the nation. I met Bob in the early 1980s. We hit it off right away.
Bob was a thinker, a visionary, and a problem-solver. Above all, Bob had a backbone of steel and excellent communications skills.
When Bob ran AOC, he played a vital role in passing Alabama's Judicial Article (Amendment 328, which was ratified in 1973). The Article unified and standardized the public’s interaction with Alabama courts.
Bob also worked his butt off to end generational judicial bias against black lawyers and their clients in courtrooms around the state. He was relentless in his efforts to level the playing field for Alabama's black citizens. I worked closely with Bob throughout the 1980s and 90s on this goal.
What made Bob great was his unique ability to effectuate positive change in the state's judiciary, while minimizing the backlash from those who were resistant to any change in the “Good Ol' Boys” arrangement within the courts. Also, Bob’s word was his bond, which is a rarity in today's world. When Bob gave you his word, you could take it to the bank.
After spending 25 years with AOC, Bob Martin returned to the news business. Bob purchased The Montgomery Independent in March 1997 and soon after retired from the AOC to dedicate all of his time to the publication.
Bob Martin served as President of the Alabama Press Association (APA) Journalism Foundation in 2008. Bob was also a member of the U.S Army Reserve Unit in Sheffield, the Fighting 336th Army APU.
Bob Martin died on September 15, 2020 in Montgomery, Alabama.
Looking back on it today, no single person did more to eradicate generational white racism in Alabama's judicial system than Bob Martin. He was truly one of the great ones. I really miss him!