Warren County’s Namesake: Major General Joseph Warren, M.D.

Many residents of Warren County, home of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, know little--if anything--about the man for whom the county is named. Indeed, twelve states named a county after Major General Joseph Warren, M.D., hero of the American Revolution and martyr of the Battle of Bunker Hill. This is his story.

Jerry W. Martin, M.D., was born in Providence, Kentucky, on November 28, 1935, to Charles R. Martin, Jr. and Rosena Playl Martin. He graduated from Providence High School in 1954 and continued his education at Vanderbilt University in 1954-55 (Sigma Nu), B.S. from Western Kentucky State College, 1958, and M.D. at University of Louisville College of Medicine in 1963 (Alpha Kappa Kappa). He married Jimmie D. Hobgood on December 18, 1955. They have two daughters, Melissa Martin Johnson, R.N., Mary Elizabeth Martin, B.S., D.V.M., a son, Charles Stanley Martin, B.S., B.A, M.A., J.D., one grandchild, Elizabeth Johnson Hathaway, B.A., and one great-grandchild, Sarah Elizabeth Hathaway. After engaging in the private practice of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for one and one-half years, he was drafted into the United States Army, receiving the Reserve Commission of Captain in the Medical Corps on January 15, 1966. Following graduation from the Army Medical Services Officers Basic Course (Diploma, March 5, 1966) at the Medical Field Service School, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, he was assigned to the 18th Surgical Hospital (MA), then located at Fort Gordon, Georgia (March 14, 1966 to June 16, 1966).