the stadium is named after clarence d. martin (1886–1955), the governor of the state of washington (1933–41), a former mayor of cheney and graduate of the university of washington. his son, dan (clarence d. martin, jr., 1916–1976), made a $250,000 donation to the project in january 1972 under the stipulation that the stadium be named after his father. additional gifts were continued by dan's widow, charlotte martin; $250,000 in 1978 and $150,000 in 1979.