The Martin family of Virginia, one of the nation's most active wrestling families, has invited the entire wrestling community to attend a Memorial Service for Billy Martin, Sr., the legendary wrestling coach who passed away recently.

The Billy Martin, Sr. Memorial Service will be held at Granby High School in Norfolk, Va, on Saturday, April 21. The doors open at 4:00 p.m, and the service is expected to end sometime around 7:00 p.m.

There will be a reception following the Memorial Service at Ocean View Fishing Pier Restaurant.

"The process occurred so suddenly," said Steve Martin, the head wrestling coach at Old Dominion University and one of the sons of Billy Martin, Sr. "We felt we needed to do something extra for those who could not attend his funeral."

Steve Martin has indicated that anybody in the general public who had an interest in attending the service is invited. 

"This is open to all the people he touched in his 40 years of doing his wrestling camps, as well as all of his other wrestling activities," said Steve Martin. "We have received hundreds of e-mails, many from people we don't know personally, going back so many years. He was an innovator in the sport. We want to make sure that everybody who has an opportunity to attend knows about the service."

Steve Martin noted that a special effort was made to offer a fitting testament to this wrestling legend and his life. There will be a multi-media presentation shown on Billy Martin, Sr.'s life, with photos going back throughout his life, presented on a large screen to music from each decade featured.

"Since 1933, we have accumulated photos. There will be a lot of pictures that nobody has ever seen. We have tried to come up with something visual as part of the service," said Steve Martin.

Billy Martin Sr. Memorial Service 
Saturday, April 21, 2007 
Granby High School, Norfolk, Virginia

4:00 p.m.
Doors Open 

4:30 - 5:15 p.m.
Billy Martin Sr. Memorabilia Gallery Presentation - 

1948 - 1971 Granby team pictures, Coach Martin's National & State Awards, Granby wrestling legends pictures, early family pictures. Coach Martin's wrestlers check-in for nametags. 

5:15 p.m.
Memorial Service Begins 

5:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Bruce Rader, Master of Ceremonies Sports Director WAVY - TV Video tribute of WAVY broadcast story of Coach Martin.

5:30 - 5:40 p.m.
Martin Family & family video. 
Martin Family members 

Granby Teams Tribute 

5:45 - 5:50 p.m.
1948 -1952 Ed Eichelberger, 
3x State Champion, 
2x NCAA National Champion, 
OW, Lehigh University 

5:50 - 6:00 p.m.
1953 - 1956 Sherman Van Devender 
3x State Champion 

6:00 - 6:10 p.m.
1957 - 1961 Gray Simons 
State Champion 
3x NCAA National Champion 
Lock Haven University 
2x OW 2x Olympian 
Team Tribute & Video highlight of Gray's 3rd NCAA Championship 

6:10 - 6:20 p.m.
1962 - 1965 Keith Lowrance 
2x State Champion 
2x NCAA All-American, Michigan State University 

6:20 - 6:30 p.m.
Johnny Brown Former principal of Granby High School 

6:30 - 6:40 p.m.
1966- 1968 Joe Boone & Mike Ellis 
3x State Champions 

6:40 - 6:50 p.m.
1969-1971 Billy Martin Jr. 
2x State Champion 
3x NCAA All-American, Oklahoma State University 
Jr. World Champion 

6:50 - 7:00 p.m.
Closing remarks Bruce Rader 

Reception following Memorial Service at Ocean View Fishing Pier Restaurant. 

Contributions sent to:
Billy Martin Sr. Memorial Fund 
3490 E. Virginia Beach Blvd. 
Norfolk, Virginia 23502 

Host Hotel 
Norfolk Airport Hilton 
757-466-8000 
Ask for Billy Martin Sr. rates