Roy “Robot” Martin, a 1985 graduate of Roosevelt High School, is among the second class of inductees into the National High School Track & Field Hall of Fame.
He is considered one of the greatest high school sprinters in American history, later helping SMU win the 1986 NCAA track & field competition and competed in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea.
During his senior year, Martin set the National High School Record for the 200 meters with a time of 20.13 seconds – at the state championship meet in Austin. He recorded the fasted prep time in the nation for the 100 meters at 10.18 seconds, and anchored the Roosevelt 4×100 and 4×400 meter relay teams with times (40.28 seconds and 3:09.4 minutes, respectively) that remain among the fastest ever recorded for high school competitors. Track & Field News named him Male Prep Athlete of the Year in 1984 and 1985. He was also ranked No. 3 in the world for the 200 meters in his senior year.
Martin earned the nickname “Robot” from Roosevelt classmates because of the machine-like form he took while running.
