Dave Martin

Honorary Benchie

Dave "Toad" Martin 1972

Due to actions beyond his control Dave wasn’t a member of the prestigious Band of Benchies. No it wasn’t his highly skilled basketball skills that kept him out of the group, it was solely the fact that his parents moved to Oklahoma for a year. This missed opportunity in Dave’s life has forever haunted him and has caused him many sleepless nights tossing and turning and pondering, “If only…”.

Dave was on our 7th grade team along with the rest of us. Notice I said he was “on” the team and not that he “played’ on the team. Dave’s fine tuned, dare I say “Jedi” Benchie skills would have put him in the position to give Kent Williams a run for the title of Benchie of the Year.

Most people long for their “15 minutes of fame" but Dave always being an overachiever managed to do it in less than three seconds. At one of the games during our 7th grade year the first string had done their job during the first three and half quarters and built up a huge lead so Coach Coleman decided it was safe enough to start putting in the scrubs. The second string went it and managed not to blow the lead so this gave the Coach enough confidence to dig deep into the third string bunch and he bravely called Dave to his side and told him to check in. Now with only a minute or two left in the game the other team knew they only had one chance to cut into our lead. They had to start fouling us intentionally thus sending us to the free throw line in hopes we would miss our shots. So Dave bounded confidently out onto the courts with hopes of impressing a cheerleader or two.

Greg Storm was handed the ball to inbound it and he fired a crisp pass to Dave. OK, so it was more like a fluttering butterfly pass but anyway, the ball reach Dave and immediately the opposing team fouled him. Apparently Dave thought the foul was harder than it had to be so he immediately turned, cocked his arm, and fired the basketball at the back of the head of the guy that fouled him. Turns out Dodge Ball would have been a better sport for Dave. The ref blew his whistle and sent Dave packing for the bench. Coach Coleman grabbed Dave by the arm and escorted him to his normal and more comfortable position, back on the Bench.

It’s spirit like this that flows through the heart of every Benchie.

Where Are They Now

Dave Martin's Family

We sent out a little survey to each benchie to find out where they are today and what they have done since graduation.  Below are the answers Dave sent to the question, where are you today.

Current State: KS
Current Town: Fort Scott
Graduated from Webb City? Yes


Places Dave has lived since his life as a Benchie:  
Skiatook, OK and Ft. Scott, KS

Dave's basketball career after 8th grade:
Moved to Skiatook, Ok my eight grade year but then moved back to Webb City the following year.  I played, well was on the team my 9th grade year but then retired from basketball after that.

Favorite memory as a Benchie?
Getting a technical foul and getting thrown out of the game.  Also the time Wes Waggoner ripped his basketball shorts completely out while shooting a free-throw at one of our home games.


Family status, kids, jobs, life highlights, years on parole, etc:
I have four wonderful daughters.  Breann – 23 – she will graduate from OCC in Joplin in December 2010.  Shereise – 21 – Graduate from the University of Arkansas and is working on her Masters at KU Medical School in Dietics.  Sophia – 16 – Junior at Ft. Scott High School.  Emily – 13 – 8th grader at Ft. Scott Middle School.

Spent 30 years in the corporate world.  August of 2010 I was selected as City Manager of Ft. Scott.   First time in politics and loving it.

Married to my wonderful wife, Jara for 27 years.  She is an orchestra instructor at Ft. Scott High School.  She deserves an award for putting up with me.  Never been arrested but should have been many times. (I am guessing Dave is talking about himself and not Jara.)