William Earl Martin Sr., a third-generation Baltimore County farmer who was known for the produce and prized sunflowers that he sold at the Baltimore Farmers' Market for more than 30 years, died of complications from surgery June 8 at Franklin Square Hospital Center. He was 79.
Mr. Martin was born at home on his father's Rosedale farm, established by his paternal grandfather in the late 1800s.
After graduating from Kenwood High School in 1947, Mr. Martin became a full-time produce and herb farmer.
His family's original farm was purchased by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks in 1970, and three years later Mr. Martin relocated his operation to a 40-acre site in Rossville, where he built a home.
While he grew other produce, Mr. Martin's chief crops were leeks, herbs, spring onions and sunflowers.
"He was the largest grower of spring onions in Maryland and got the nickname of the 'Onion King,' " said his son, William E. Martin Jr. of Perry Hall, a fourth-generation family farmer.
"He was always up at 6 a.m. and in his fields no later than 7 a.m. He did this every day, seven days a week," his son said. "When we were children, he'd never say, 'Good night.' He'd always said, 'Sleep fast,' because there was work to do in the fields."
In 1977, the elder Mr. Martin became one of the first vendors to sell his produce at the Baltimore Farmers' Market, which originally had been at Market Place near the old Wholesale Fish Market.
It later moved to President and Pratt streets and, 24 years ago, to its present home under the Jones Falls Expressway on Saratoga Street.
"He was one of our original vendors and remained committed to the market," said Carole L. Simon, who has managed the market since 1991.
"There he'd be, standing - he never, ever sat down. He was a typical farmer with his leathery skin and standing with his hands on his suspenders."
Ms. Simon described him as a "very friendly and personable man who was awfully proud of his produce."
Mr. Martin's produce found favor with such notable Baltimore restaurateurs as Cindy Wolf, chef/owner with her husband, Tony Foreman, of the Charleston and several other upscale area restaurants, and Spike Gjerde, owner of Woodberry Kitchen.
"For years, one of his big customers was Mars Supermarkets," his son said.
In addition to the downtown farmers' market, Mr. Martin sold his produce at the Towson Farmers' Market on Thursdays and at the Waverly Farmers' Market on 32nd Street on Saturdays.
