Where Are They Now?
When Terry Martin was 16, his father Robert Martin taught him to drive a truck. “I would drive after school in the evenings, I would drive every weekend,” Martin said. “A lot of times I just skipped school and drove.”
Driving became Martin’s passion, and led to a 43-year career as a truck driver.
Martin graduated from Dublin High School in 1978, and began driving full time for his father. “I would run local stuff, peanuts and corn,” he said.
Soon, though, Martin began taking jobs with other companies that led him across the country. He particularly enjoyed driving out west. “So my favorite times were going to California, Oregon, Washington,” he said. “That country is amazing scenerywise.”
When his father retired, Martin began working for different trucking companies. Throughout his years on the road, he often stopped to help people who had broken down. “I’ve helped hundreds of people stranded on the highways,” he said.
Martin appreciated all the sights and experiences he had through his career. “I’ve seen things that most people never get the chance to see in their lifetime,” he said. “I think it is one of the greatest careers in the world. I looked at every trip as a vacation.”
Still, a job that required him to be on the road most days meant Martin was rarely at home. “It’s not a good career for a family, and I missed a lot of time with my boys,” he said. “I’m making up [to them] now over the years.”
Martin and his wife Sheila have two sons and three grandchildren.
Martin retired in 2020. “When I retired, for three years all I did was fish,” he said. He and his wife enjoyed fishing so much that they decided to start a business around it.
The Martins now run Bobbers, a bait and tackle shop on the Comanche side of Proctor Lake. “It’s really great and we enjoy it,” he said. “We get to meet a lot of different people and we get to fish a lot.”
In his free time, Martin enjoys restoring old cars. He’s worked on several, and kept his favorites to display in car shows.
Throughout his life, Martin has found inspiration through watching his parents. “They taught me to work hard and take care of other people,” he said.
His father, Robert, passed away in 2010, and his mother Mavis still lives in Dublin and enjoys golfing at the country club.
Martin’s advice to Dublin graduates is to work hard, and to not feel pressured to go to college if they would prefer to take the trade school route. “Find an occupation that you can always fall back on, like welding or mechanicing or building houses,” he said. “Just keep on the right path, and don’t do drugs, ever.”
Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.