Bob Martinez

Robert "Bob' Martinez was born in Tampa, Florida, the grandson of Spanish immigrants, he obtained his undergraduate degree in Social Science at the University of Tampa in 1957, then earned a Masters degree, in "labor and industrial relations" from the University of Illinois in 1964. Returning to Tampa, Martinez taught social studies at Oak Grove Junior High and Chamberlain High School. Martinez became the head of the local teachers' union in 1966 until 1975. That year Martinez bought the well-known and popular Café Sevilla Spanish Restaurant in Tampa. Governor Rubin Askew also appointed him to the Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board later that year, serving until he ran successfully for mayor of Tampa in 1979.