Rising through the railroad's engineering ranks, he assisted in surveying the floor of the Hudson River during construction of Pennsylvania Station in New York City in the 1900s.

After World War I, Clement was tapped to become head of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Lake Division in Cleveland, and steadily rose through the corporate ranks to executive vice-presidency.

One of his great accomplishments was the continuation of electrification of the PRR mainlines, begun under General Atterbury, from New York City to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Two days later, all Pennsylvania Railroad trains systemwide came to a stop for one minute at 3:00 PM Eastern Time in his honor.

Annually, the Trinity Chapter of St. Anthony Hall (the Fraternity of Delta Psi), host the Martin Withington Clement Lecture in his honor.