Patricio "Paddy" Martinez (1881– August 26, 1969)[1] was an American prospector and shepherd who discovered uranium at Haystack Mesa in the San Juan Basin near Grants, New Mexico, in 1950.

The San Juan Basin yielded 60% of the uranium in the United States, valued at over $25 billion.

[4] He was hired by the railroad and Anaconda Mining Company as a uranium scout for $400 per month, a good salary then.

He was the subject of feature articles in Time, Life, True West and Reader's Digest magazines.

[4] His tombstone at Grants Memorial Cemetery simply reads, "Paddy Martinez 1881 - 1969 Uranium Pioneer."