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Kevin Martin

personactive29 mentionsFirst seen Sep 29, 2004Last seen Feb 17, 2026

Profile

Kevin Martin is a prominent figure in the pinball community with deep ties to PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association). He worked as a programmer at Data East in the early 1990s and later founded PAPA, where he has been involved in organizing major tournaments like Pinburgh. Martin has contributed to the pinball community through tournament infrastructure, including camera equipment setup, and has been associated with classic pinball machines at regional clubs.

Aliases

No aliases

Relationships

No relationships

Facts

No facts recorded

Claims (11)

  • factualhigh

    Kevin Martin lost money personally on PAPA Championship events year after year

    Source: Jeff TeolisEpisode 294: The Pinball Profile Top 10 Most Intriguing People of 2020
  • factualmedium

    Kevin Martin has personally invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into competitive pinball

    Source: Josh SharpThe Super Awesome Pinball Show - Special Report
  • factualhigh

    Kevin Martin's $5,000 donation was instrumental in reaching the Pinball Donut Girl funding goal

    Source: Pinball NewsNews in Brief
  • factualhigh

    Kevin Martin founded pair Networks, Inc in summer 1995

Recent Mentions (29)

  • Data East programmer who started same week as Orin Day (December 1993); later founder of Papa Facility; appeared as the drowning character 'Kevin' in Baywatch

    Episode 114 – A Banner DayOct 30, 2018
  • Founder of Replay Foundation/ReplayFX; from Pittsburgh; worked at Sega briefly; founded Pair Networks web hosting company; personally loaned $410k+ to Replay Foundation; primary financial backer pumping seven figures into venue

    Episode 155 – Missing MedallionsNov 28, 2020
  • Contributed to game rules on Tommy at Data East

    Episode 100 – Lyman LamentsJul 18, 2018
  • Co-founder/leader of ReplayFX Foundation; signatory on closure announcement

    Episode 106: Farewell with FondnessNov 23, 2020
  • PAPA tournament official who announced playoff brackets

    Episode 38 – Josh Hates Twilight ZoneApr 13, 2017
  • President of PAPA; owns pair Networks, Inc web hosting company; competitive pinball player, tournament organizer, and creator of the Pinball Archive

    Pinball Heroes: Kevin Martin

Contradictions

  • Existing: Kevin Martin founded PAPA (from mentions 2 and 1)vsConflicting: Mention 1 credits 'David Benke' as PAPA founder/Pinburgh organizer, not Kevin Martin
    Resolved
    accepted_new · Mar 2, 2026

Related Glossary Terms

No linked glossary terms

Source: Kevin Martin
Pinball Heroes: Kevin Martin
  • factualhigh

    The Pinball Archive was conceived over Christmas 1991 and launched in January 1992

    Source: Kevin MartinPinball Heroes: Kevin Martin
  • opinionhigh

    Working at Data East/Sega Pinball negatively impacted Kevin Martin's competitive pinball skills because he played with the glass off

    Source: Kevin MartinPinball Heroes: Kevin Martin
  • factualhigh

    Kevin Martin currently runs PAPA

    Source: Pinball News articleJust for the Record
  • opinionhigh

    Kevin Martin believes no single pinball game at the facility will be restorable

    Source: Direct quoteWaterworld
  • factualhigh

    The PAPA facility had never flooded in 100-plus years prior to Hurricane Ivan

    Source: Direct quoteWaterworld
  • factualhigh

    PAPA organization will recover approximately 100 playfields from salvage operations, though they are moldy and warped

    Source: Direct quoteWaterworld
  • factualhigh

    The PAPA facility had no flood insurance despite its 100+ year history

    Source: Direct quoteWaterworld
  • Apr 18, 2009
  • President of replay organization; previously ran PAPA World Championships; involved in facilitating PAPA 21 revival

    Triple Drain Pinball Podcast - PAPA's got some news...Feb 14, 2024
  • Owner and leader behind PAPA's resurgence; managed facility and tournament operations; oversaw damage assessment and salvage operations

    WaterworldSep 29, 2004
  • Founder of Pair.com web hosting; organizer of PAPA pinball tournaments

    Sounds Like a Good IdeaJan 12, 2006
  • Founder/organizer of PAPA, handles all computerized systems including registration and scoring

    Pinburgh PreviewMar 1, 2011
  • PAPA President; credited for tournament organization and facility management

    PAPA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 & IFPA 13Jun 29, 2016
  • PAPA figure who donated $5,000 to Pinball Donut Girl and earned Executive Producer credit

    News in BriefJan 1, 2012
  • Current runner of PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association), acknowledged as world's premier competitive pinball event

    Just for the RecordMay 8, 2006
  • Donated PAPA Player #101 for silent auction to benefit the fundraiser

    Ball SaverSep 28, 2005
  • Director of Papa/Replay Foundation since 2004; has personally invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into competitive pinball; led foundation through 100-year flood recovery and recent pandemic closure

    The Super Awesome Pinball Show - Special ReportNov 20, 2020
  • President/leader of Replay organization which owns PAPA and Pinnberg; historical PAPA organizer; approved Papa 21 revival concept

    Triple Drain Pinball Podcast: PAPA's Got Some News…Feb 15, 2024
  • Original owner of Replay Foundation collection; made final decision to fold and sell assets

    Episode 171 – That’s AmoreJul 29, 2021
  • Keith's college friend from Blacksburg, Virginia; attended PAPA Tournament together in 1992; worked at Data East; shaped both their careers in pinball.

    Episode 266: Keith Johnson keeping us busyJun 26, 2020
  • Primary organizer/founder who kept Pinburgh afloat for many years and made the difficult decision to close the event

    Episode 287: Thank you Pinburgh & Replay FXNov 25, 2020
  • Founder and leader of Replay Foundation and PAPA; built major pinball tournament infrastructure (Pinberg, ReplayFX, PAPA Championships); sustained personal financial losses; rebuilt after 2004 flood destroyed 230 machines.

    Episode 294: The Pinball Profile Top 10 Most Intriguing People of 2020Jan 8, 2021
  • Director at Papa arcade facility where original Pinberg tournaments were held. Initially resistant to large match-play format, agreed to host after Bowen's repeated pitches.

    Episode 389: Bowen Kerins is busy!Feb 5, 2024
  • Original PAPA founder; lent his name and provided support to PAPA 21; Andy notes 'Kevin Martin was nice enough to lend us the name and give us tons of support'

    Episode 405: Andy Bagwell – PAPA 21Sep 4, 2024
  • Replay Foundation representative; co-organizer of PAPA 21 revival; helped coordinate restoration of PAPA tournament series.

    Episode 399: Penni Epstein and PAPA 21Jun 27, 2024
  • Pinburgh attendee and long-time tournament participant who discussed timing/scheduling challenges with Jeff Teolis

    Episode 179: Elizabeth Cromwell – Pinburgh 1000!Feb 15, 2019
  • Programmer on Data East's Who's Tommy; collaborated on rules design with Lyman and Lonnie

    Episode 199: Pinball Wizard turns 50!May 24, 2019
  • Strong Chicago pinball player; originated 'devolved' RGP format in review of Dracula

    TOPCast 62: Greg DunlapJul 30, 2008
  • Programmer hired same day as Orin Day (late November 1993); worked at Data East; later founded PAPA

    TOPCast 53: Orin DayFeb 20, 2008
  • PAPA founder/Pinburgh organizer; moved to South Carolina and contributed Lord of the Rings and Twilight Zone to Palmetto Pinball Club

    EP11 David BenkeDec 21, 2025
  • PAPA personnel credited with setting up and building tournament camera equipment

    Dirty Pool Podcast Ep02 – Bowen Kerins on Designing Dune and the Art of Pinball RulesMay 9, 2025