Photos from the Harold ‘Doc’ Martin ’20 Scholarship Benefit Dinner
(photographer: Anna P. D’Amore)
See more photos from the benefit dinner from the National Press Club.
Thank you to everyone that participated in the Harold ‘Doc’ Martin Scholarship Benefit Dinner. With over 240 supporters, 125 of whom were able to join us in person, the event was a delightful success. The committee was pleased to welcome several members of the Martin family, guest speaker Maj Gen Cedric George, USAF (Ret) and Tuskegee Airman Woody Woodhouse among others.
Established in 2021 and named in honor of Norwich University’s first Black graduate and Tuskegee Airman, Harold ‘Doc’ Martin ’20, the scholarship is awarded to talented students with financial need.
The Harold ‘Doc’ Martin ’20 Scholarship Committee:
Wale Akinde ’03 | Anthony Johnson ’94 | Lowell Price ’93 | Tonya Thorne ’94 |
LTC (Ret) Tomy Wright ’75 | Willie Wright ’93
Give Now to the Harold 'Doc' Martin Scholarship
Harold Douglas ‘Doc’ Martin entered Norwich University as a cadet in 1916, the first African-American to do so. While at Norwich, Martin studied electrical engineering and was heavily involved in student life. He was the star of the varsity football team in addition to playing baseball and hockey. He was also in Mandolin Club, Glee Club, and a member of the War Whoop staff. He was truly a well-rounded student and exemplified our motto — "I Will Try."
After graduating from Norwich in 1920, he was offered a job at Westinghouse Electric. However, the company withdrew the offer when it found out that he was African-American. Martin managed to find another job at a smaller electric company in Pittsburgh. During his time in that city, he pitched for two Negro League baseball teams. Martin went on to have a successful career in college athletics, coaching and administering thriving athletic programs. He also earned a master’s degree in physical education from New York University.
During World War II, Martin was stationed at Tuskegee Army Airfield, where all African-American Army Air Force pilots were trained. He eventually became the Director of the Ground School at Tuskegee and was promoted to the rank of Major. The Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 15,000 sorties during World War II. Their impressive performance earned them more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses and helped encourage the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces. Martin died in an accident during a routine flight in 1945 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
He is memorialized in the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. In 1984, he was inducted into the Norwich Athletics Hall of Fame. He is also the namesake of the Harold ‘Doc’ Martin Society, a multicultural student group that promotes a community of acceptance, inclusiveness, and diversity on campus.
Gifts to the Harold ‘Doc’ Martin Scholarship will increase financial aid and give Norwich the flexibility to address student needs as they arise over the coming months.