Obit of the Day: Flower King of Atlanta
Dan Martin sold his first bouquet of daffodils when he was nine. They cost a nickel. These were the humble beginnings of an internationally known and respected flower designer, which led to television appearances, work on films, and making Evel Knieval cry.
Martin, who appeared on 20/20 to talk about his floral designs, received his biggest floral order to Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in 1968. (See above.) Several years later he was asked to design floral arrangments for a dinner for famed stuntman Evel Knieval. When Knieval entered the banquet he saw a full-size motorcyle, done completely in flowers, hanging from the ceiling with miniature versions on every table. This brought Knieval to tears, the story goes.
Martin also provided the floral arrangments for the 1988 movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, where he befriended Fannie Flagg, author of the book on which the movie was based.
Mr. Martin, who was 87, came a long way from those 5¢ bouquets.
(Image of MLK’s funeral procession in Atlanta copyright Jo Freeman.)
