stories from the past

30 years ago

General Dynamics officials are expected today to move into a block of rooms in the Vacation Inn Travelodge, El Centro, fueling speculation that the company is on the verge of accepting an Imperial County financed factory next to the airport.

News that company officials are arriving in the Valley comes on the heels of a report from Congressman Duncan Hunter’s office that the defense contractor may announce Friday where it will site a factory for at least 500 workers to consolidate a number of far-flung facilities making electronic harness and missile guidance systems. Local officials say they are excited, but in the dark about the company’s visit. And General Dynamics officials refused to confirm or deny reports of the visit or to comment on the proposal at all.

20 years ago

First stop, St. Petersburg in the Sunshine State.

Central Union High’s Brian Martin signed his name on the dotted line yesterday, which will send him to the Gulf Coast Rookie League to begin play in the St. Petersburg Devil Rays professional baseball organization.

Tampa Bay drafted Martin, a 17-year-old Central senior from El Centro, in the ninth round Tuesday of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. Delivering the call to Martin on Tuesday was Devil Rays’ scout and area supervisor Craig Weissmann.

Weissmann scouted Martin over his high school career and inked a deal with him yesterday at Martin’s home in the presence of Martin’s family and friends.

“I’m glad to get it over with,” said Martin of the draft and signing process. “It was a very eye-opening experience.”

That experience was nothing new to Martin’s father, Alvin “Lefty” Martin and brother Gene, both of whom played professional baseball. Lefty, also a scout for the Kansas City Royals from 1986 through 1991, was signed in 1965 by the California Angels and Gene was drafted in 1989 by the Atlanta Braves.