The thousands of people who walk through Rice University’s 300-acre forested campus daily benefit from the labor of Tony Martino, an Italian immigrant and the school’s first gardener, who planted and cared for most of the big trees that we see today. Ron Smith, Rice’s grounds superintendent, said Martino also created the university’s perimeter hedge and planted the first flowers at Rice, literally helping build the new Rice Institute in the early days from the ground up.
Working with Centennial Historian Melissa Kean, video producer Brandon Martin takes a look at Martino and his horticultural legacy at Rice. Learn more about Martino in this story from a 2003 issue of “The Cornerstone,” a newsletter of the Rice Historical Society. For more information on Rice’s history, visit Kean’s blog at www.ricehistorycorner.com.
To help celebrate the university’s centennial Oct. 12, Rice University is producing weekly videos exploring the school’s unique history.
To see other stories in the centennial video series, go to http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL60D6D71E71B66B3D&feature=plcp.
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WOW AMAZING, YOUR INFORMATION REALLY GOOD FOR ME THANKS
There is also a 1976-77 Sallyport article which in turn referenced every Thresher mention of Tony Martino. I was on a first-name basis with the Woodson staff while researching it and other Rice History articles….
-DDH / Jones 1977
Tony Martino is my Uncle. I love running around Rice. What a beautiful gift he gave to so many.
Thank you for recognizing him.
Gina Grayum
Daughter of Patricia Martino Stewart
thanks so much for this great piece, this my great-great uncle and i enjoyed reading the articles and seeing the video, it is truely a treasure!
this is about my great-great uncle, thanks so much for sharing how big of a part he has played in the history of Rice, and also for the great articles, it is wonderful read about. What a treasure!