Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 11, 1992 TAG: 9202110141
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
DONNIE MARTIN
He's a building inspector well-known for his heroic efforts to replace an old fish atop the Giles County Courthouse. He's also a longtime resident of the Newport community.So is his pony.
\ NAME: Donald "Donnie" Martin.
\ AGE: 43.
\ WOULD RATHER BE: A plumber.
\ HOMETOWN: Newport.
\ CURRENT RESIDENCE: Newport.
\ WHERE EDUCATED: Giles County schools, New River Community College.
\ MARITAL STATUS: Married to Debbie Martin for 19 years.
\ CHILDREN: Billy, 15; Amy, 9; Donald Wayne II, 7.
\ PETS: Nugget, a cocker spaniel; Inky, a cat; Rebel, a Shetland pony.
\ REBEL'S AGE: 31. "As far as I know he's the oldest pony in Giles County."
\ REBEL'S HOMETOWN: "I think it was Radford, but I'm not sure."
\ HOW DID REBEL GET HIS NAME? "I was into the Civil War and all that stuff."
\ HOW LONG HAS REBEL BEEN IN THE FAMILY? 28 years. "I've had him longer than I've had my wife."
\ DOES YOUR WIFE LIKE REBEL? "She doesn't like him as much as I do. But I tell her she can't run him off because he's been here longer than she has."
\ REBEL'S OCCUPATION? Lawn care. "He fertilizes in the winter and mows in the summer."
\ HOW DID YOU GET REBEL? An uncle gave him a car when he was 15, then decided to trade the car in on two ponies instead. "It broke my heart to see the car go, but we got old Rebel out of the deal."
\ WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING? "Groundhog hunt in the summer and deer hunt in the winter."
\ WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A DEAD GROUNDHOG? "I eat them. Some people don't."
\ WHAT DOES REBEL EAT? Hay, alfalfa, white gravy, pork chops, watermelon, bacon, dog food, salt, and sugar. "He'll eat everything but onions. He likes chewing tobacco, too. He doesn't eat that. He just swallows it."
\ SMARTEST THING YOU EVER DID: "Going to school after I finished high school and getting a little further education."
\ DUMBEST THING YOU EVER DID: No comment.
\ SECOND DUMBEST? "Not saving money more."
\ DUMBEST THING REBEL EVER DID? "He ate up a bunch of my wife's flowers one time. She was pretty hot. She took a stick after him."
\ DID SHE CATCH HIM? Yes.
\ YOUR WORST HABIT: "Working too late at night, not coming home and spending time with the kids."
\ REBEL'S WORST HABIT: "He likes to pick on my wife. He never comes up on the porch when I'm here. But he walks up on the porch and bothers my wife."
\ IS REBEL SPOILED? "Sure he's spoiled. If somebody fed you and gave you water and didn't make you do anything, wouldn't you be spoiled?"
\ IS REBEL A NICE HORSE? "He really likes kids. Kids and dogs. I've seen the cat jump up on his back and ride, and he doesn't get mad. The kids are always fooling with him. They walk around between his legs and under his belly."
\ HOW DID REBEL REACH SUCH AN IMPRESSIVE AGE? "Not doing anything. A lot of good food, too. He's lived an easy life."
\ IS REBEL IN DECLINING HEALTH? "No. He can really run. He runs like a big stallion. He really looks classy. . . . He's a good pony."