Mr. Daylon Lee Martin

Daylon Lee Martin was born April 20, 1955, in Borger to Bobby Wayne and Georgia Martin. He graduated from Borger High School in 1973, and from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 1983. Daylon pursued a career as a motorcycle mechanic from 1984 until 1995. During that period Daylon and his family lived in many cities: Borger, Dumas, Guymon, Okla., Roswell, N.M., and Amarillo. After a career- ending injury, Daylon shifted his focus to his real passion, music. His first job in the music industry was as an overnight disc jockey at KARX. Soon afterward he moved on to KBUY/KTNZ where he truly immersed in his new career and sowed the seeds that would grow his success. Daylon was entrusted with management of the AM station. His performance, loyalty and work ethic led to his position as general manager, and most of the time only employee of KBZD/KTNZ. He transformed KTNZ into a successful talk station bringing many hosts, such as Michael Savage and Alex Jones, to Amarillo listeners for the first time. KBZD became the crowning achievement of Daylon's professional career, transforming a pop station into "The Home of the Blues" and earning him the radio handle "Martin M the Bluesman." Daylon worked in this capacity until the death of the owner forced a sale of the station in 2002. Daylon continued his career as a Disc Jockey playing weddings, reunions, parties, and donating his time to the United States Marine Corps and Amarillo War Memorial.

Daylon spent the last few years of his life taking care of his grandson, Elliot, taking him to school, playing sports and feeding ducks in the local parks. Daylon was an even better grandfather, father, and husband than anything else. He was deeply loved and will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Wayne Martin; and a brother, Bobby Wayne Martin Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Selma Martin of Amarillo; a son, Rory Martin of Amarillo; two grandsons, Elliot Martin and Evan Hernandez, both of Amarillo; his mother, Georgia Martin of Borger; his brother, Kelly Martin and wife Marcie of Federal Way, Wash.; two nephews, Clayton Martin and wife Jennifer of Fort Bragg, N.C., and Tyler Joe Paige and wife Crystal of Borger; four nieces, Ginny Cooper and husband Justin of Albuquerque, N.M., Jessica Vaughn and husband Jamin of Federal Way, Wash., Brandi Moore and husband Raymond Jr. of Borger and Megan Green and husband Matt of Amarillo; and four little babies in the family with one on the way.

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