Paddy Martinez

Patricio "Paddy" Martinez (1881– August 26, 1969) was an American prospector and sheepherder who discovered uranium at Haystack Mesa in the San Juan Basin near Grants, New Mexico, in 1950. This was the first discovery in the Grants Uranium District, and led to a uranium boom that lasted almost 30 years. The San Juan Basin contained 60% of the known uranium resources in the United States, valued at over $25 billion. The Santa Fe Railroad continued to pay Martinez $250 per month until the day he died.

After his first discovery, in 1950 of carnotite, a low-grade uranium-bearing ore, he staked a claim on . After that he explored Haystack Mountain where he made the discovery of high-grade ore. He and his wife Flora had 14 children.

His tombstone at Grants Memorial Cemetery simply reads, "Paddy Martinez 1881 - 1969 Uranium Pioneer." His grave is near Paddy Martinez Park, where children play.

Legacy Martinez was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in 1992.