Ramona Martinez's family history goes back to the descendants of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish colonizers. While they landed in the south (now Mexico) they moved north when they were given Land Grants in the 1800’s to the area we now know as the San Luis Valley, Colorado. 

Martinez was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2010. Active in politics since the 1970s, Martinez was elected to Denver City Council In 1987 and served for a total of 16 years. During her tenure, she was elected the first Hispanic female city council president. Appointed as an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee during the Clinton administration, Martinez served as Vice Chair of the Hispanic Caucus. In 2006 she was elected President of the caucus. In addition, she was appointed by President Clinton to the National Environmental Protection Advisory Board, serving as a representative for local elected officials. A successful businesswoman she, along with her sister, saw their company listed as one of the top 500 Hispanic Companies in the United States.