M.C. Martin (1897-1981)

M.C. Martin (1897-1981). . , As a pillar of the community, M.C. Martin's work in the banking industry and Civil Rights Movement had a the profound impact reaching beyond his home in Danville, VA., Maceo Conrad "M.C." Martin was a distinguished banker as well as a community leader. During his 19-year bank presidency, he strived to provide members of the community, African American, white, and otherwise, with the tools that he successfully employed to achieve success throughout his career as a banker - self-help and financial empowerment., In 1919, the Savings Bank of Danville was started by a group of African American men in Danville, VA. It was one of the only African American owned banks in Virginia. Maceo Conrad "M.C." Martin and his father, Romey O. Martin, were two of the original founders. M.C. Martin served as the bank's official president for 19 years and was widely regarded as the managing banker from 1919-1970. In his first year as president, he suggested changing the bank's name to First State Bank (FSB). He was 22 years old when he started. FSB grew its assets from $95,000 in 1919 to $1.4 million by 1950, more than $3 million by 1963, $8 million by 1970, and more than $18 million by 1987. The bank was featured on the cover of American Banker and received many awards and accolades for its high performance and operational efficiency. Regulators listed the bank among the top 50 in the country. In 1933, during the Great Depression, the bank remained open until FDR issued an emergency order closing all banks on March 6 to prevent a bank run. M.C. Martin, along with G.W. Goode, conferred with the banking commissioner and FSB was allowed to reopen on April 1, 1933, one of the earliest banks to reopen in the country., A civil rights victory spawns a state park. In 1948, a banker named Maceo Conrad Martin made a drive to Staunton River State Park knowing that he'd be denied entry based on the color of his skin. He used this incident to file a lawsuit against the Commonwealth, arguing that Virginia was violating the law by not providing a "separate but equal" facility for Black parkgoers. He won the case, and the state eventually chose Prince Edward Lake (today one of the two lakes at Twin Lakes State Park) as the place to build an official park., By 1950, Prince Edward State Park for Negroes was opened as Virginia's eighth state park. Its attendance rose from 16,000 in 1949 to over 52,000 in 1951. For years, Prince Edward State Park was a top destination for Black Virginians in the time of segregation. Families camped, cooked, and swam on hot summer days. Eventually, the restaurant was converted into a popular dance hall that was booming on the weekends. It wasn't until 1976 that the state park's boundaries changed and the two lakes became part of one park: Prince Edward and Goodwin Lake State Park., (captions) , 1919: Group portrait of First State Bank founders. M.C. Martin is seated in the middle row, far right. His father, Romney O. Martin is standing behind him in the top row, far right., Left to right: Sylvesta Jennings (former First State Bank president), Paula K. Martin (M.C. Martin's daughter), Jill Smith Handy (granddaughter), Albert Handy (grandson-in-law), Prince Edward Lake was the main attraction at the new state park., The dance hall at Prince Edward State Park was a popular destination for black Virginians. It was open on the weekends for dances and parties. (Photo by Virginia State Parks), Left to right: M.C. Martin, Lillian Slade, and L. Wilson York (former First State Bank president) circa 1950s, Funding for park improvements provided by the Eco Ambassador Council (a coalition of regional businesses dedicated to protecting and promoting our natural resources) the Dan River Basin Association, Danville Parks and Recreation, and family and friends of M.C. Martin.