Rose Martinez of Zwolle has been named this year’s First Lady of the famous Tamale Fiesta.
She was born on September 19, 1943 to Jessie Ebarb and Rita McComic. Although her father has passed away, her mother is alive and well at 94-years-old. Her companion of 14 years, Thurman Webb, is with her as she begins her year as First Lady of the 43rd Annual Tamale Fiesta.
“Life is good,” she says.
Years ago, as the fiesta was in its planning, the festival’s founder, Rogers P. Loupe, asked her to help make tamales to realize his vision for Zwolle. Of course, she said yes.
“My kids weren’t too excited because they knew they were in for lots of work,” she explained. “For several years my kids, my friend JoAnne, and I made lots and lots of tamales.
The Fiesta has become even more precious to her since then. Aside from making tamales for the festival, trail ride, and silhouette matches, Martinez and her family have been involved in many aspects of the beloved Sabineland festival.
“My daughter, Suzette Anderson, reigned as queen in 1984, my grandson T.J. was crowned tiny king in 1990, and in 2013 my granddaughter Regan Anderson Jones was crowned queen,” she said. “My grandson Braylen is a royal page for this year’s festival and I’m first lady! How great is that?”
Rose has eight sisters, two brothers, and seven children. Her children are Gayle Morgan and husband, Randy; Allen Martinez and wife, Susan; the late Scott Martinez; Darlene Coker and husband, Kerry; Suzette Anderson and husband, Clint; Eileen McLain and husband, Pat; and Brad Martinez, along with one special grandson raised as a son, Leslie Martinez Jr. She also has eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, the latest granddaughter being only weeks old.
“I am very proud of every one of them,” she says.
Rose is also a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and volunteers there as well as at the St. Vincent D’Paul organization. She has few hobbies, but enjoys gardening, dancing, riding four-wheelers, cutting grass, and cooking.