Sylvester Martinez was born in Converse, La, on August 8, 1946, to Rosie and Wilson Martinez. He was raised in Zwolle where he attended St. Joseph Catholic School and Zwolle High School where he graduated in 1965. Soon after. Rock-NRoll came knocking in the form of The Savage Roses Band After high school he worked part time at Lowrey Chevrolet in Many while attending Many Trade School where he finished with a degree in automobile mechanics. In early 1967, Syl volunteered for the U.S. Army and did basic and advanced training at Ft. Polk, La. and Ft. Sill, OK. The fall of that same year, he was assigned to duty in Vietnam where he served for two years, one month and one day. He returned to the US and was honorably discharged from the Army in December 1969.
Upon his arrival back home, Syl went to work full time at Lowrey Chevrolet. He started courses at Northwestern State University in 1972 and graduated with honors in 1977 with a B.S. in education. He taught mechanics at Many Trade School in the early 1980’s before entering the oil field starting with Clffs Drilling then moving on to Ensco Drilling working in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1993 Syl began working in Venezuela, South America on a rotation schedule. In 1996 he was assigned to live in Venezuela as Maintenance Superintendent for 10 drilling rigs. In 1999 he went back to rotation work which continued until Ensco was forced out of Venezuela. In 2008 he accepted a job with Hercules Offshore in Saudi Arabia. He continued working there until his retirement in 2015.
After retirement Syl became involved with several veteran’s organizations. He is currently a Patriot Guard Rider, Life member of the Dissabled American Veterans Chapter 21, American Legion Post 0401, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5187 and the NRA. He is senior vice commander at the Zwolle VFW Post 5187 and Jr. Vice Commander of District 12 of the Louisiana VFW. Zwolle VFW post commander, Walt Korb, had the idea for the Freedom Circle which now stands on Hwy 171 in Zwolle. Sylvester was instrumental in seeing Walt’s idea come to fruititon by planning and designing the circle and boulder marker.
Syl joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans and is now commander of the local camp, Sabine Rifles Camp 2057. During his tenue as commander, membership has greatly increased. He is active in all avenues of the SCV and is a re-enactor with the 31st Louisiana Infantry serving as 2nd Sergent. He currently serves as 2nd Lieutenant of the Louisiana Division of the SCV and 1st Lieutenant of the state’s Mechanized Cavalry, as well as being a member of the Louisian Bushwhackers. He is a life member of the SCV at both state and national level.
The Sabine Rifles have grave markers and flagpoles in fifteen Sabine Parish cemeteries where Confederate Veterans are buried. The camp maintains the headstones, the markers and replaces flags, both U.S. and Confederate, on a regular basis.
Syl is an elder with the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb, La. and a former council member. He is also a member of St. Joseph Cemetery Committee. Recently, Syl was contacted by Shirley Andries and together, he and Shirley were able to get St. Joseph and St. Ann Cemeteries on the Wreaths Across America program. Beginning this year, family members who have military veterans buried in either cemetery will be able to purchace a wreath for their loved ones grave that will be placed in December.
Sylvester is a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He is married (54years) to the former Arlene Anderson of Florien and they have one son, three grandsons and four great-grandchildren. His passion for music has never stopped, with his current band being The PineKnotz.