Bobby Martin, local football legend born without legs, dies in ATV accident

Dayton, Ohio — “I feel just like a normal average person...I just don’t have any legs.”

Bobby Martin always wanted to be just like any other guy on the team. The Colonel White defensive lineman landed in the national spotlight in 2005 when he played football for the Cougars.

Martin was removed from a game by an official who said he was violating rules for not wearing thigh pads, knee pads, and shoes. That ruling was overturned by the OHSAA and he was allowed to play the rest of the season.

Martin, 32, died Tuesday night in an accident with another vehicle while riding his ATV.

Born with Caudal regression syndrome, Martin “walked” with his arms, and also got around town riding his skateboard.

Bobby was on the wrestling team in junior high school and played football his final two years at Colonel White. He was a back-up nose tackle and played regularly on special teams.

Martin won the 2006 ESPY award for best male athlete with a disability.

“My brothers taught me to just be a man about it,” Martin said in an interview with WHIO-TV in 2005. “You’re going to get people that laugh about you and don’t know about you. Just explain yourself and go about your business.”

© 2020 Cox Media Group