Birthdate: February 19, 1909
Birthplace: Hartwell, Ohio
High School: Lockland Wayne HS
College(s): Howard University, University of Cincinnati (B.S.), Xavier University (Master's)
Year Inducted: 2019
Death: 1963

Joseph Martin was the principal at Lockland Wayne High School for the 20 years (1938-58) that the all-black institution existed just outside the north limits of Cincinnati in Hamilton County.

Martin had an impressive list of former students, but he became better known for his role as coach of the basketball team for 18 years. Wayne won 387 games during that period and lost only 65 -- an .856 winning percentage. In 13 of the 18 seasons the Panthers won 20 or more games.
Martin took the Panthers to the state tournament semifinals four times – in 1949, 1951, 1952 and 1955. They won the Class B state championships in 1952 and 1955.

After Lockland Wayne closed, Martin was hired by the Cincinnati Royals of the National Basketball Association as an assistant coach. He was the first African-American to hold that position in the NBA.
Martin was ordained a minister in 1957 and ministered at the First Baptist Church in Addyston, Ohio, until his death at the age of 54 in 1963.