Martin Hoemme (1944-2012)
Martin Hoemme had a huge influence on my life.
His son Brian and I had known each other through the small local music scene here in Panama City but we had not really hung out until the Spring semester of 1990. I had already passed all the electives that I needed to graduate from Mosley HS in Lynn Haven, FL, but for some reason Brian and I were placed in choir practice, also known as Singing For Fun.
It took about 5 minutes for us to decide we weren’t going to be attending. Brian was working at McDonald’s as a crew leader (Already in management in HS. I was impressed.)
So we went to get his check, and there was Martin, standing in line in front of us. He looked me square in the eye and gave me a firm handshake. I couldn’t help but be impressed and a little intimidated. He had what I would later come to know as “military bearing”. He just instantly commanded respect.
As we were talking he had this look on his face like he knew what we were up to but didn’t care. At the time everything I wanted to do was a battle with my parents, but Brian’s dad was “cool” even back then. He let Brian drive to school before he was 16, which implied a level of trust that was just amazing to me at the time.
Brian and I hung out all the time in those days. The first time I went to Martin’s house I was impressed with the variety of things he had collected over the course of his military career. The view of Deer Point Lake was amazing. The house was compact but seemed the perfect size. He had a huge orange cat named of all things, “Cat”.
Martin never talked about his military career. I only saw the one photo of him, highly decorated in his uniform. (When I read his obituary, it said he was a Major. For some reason I thought he retired as a Lt. Col.)
Then I saw his collection of classic guitars. They were works of art. I didn’t even feel right touching them. He was into Les Paul, Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed(forever in my mind as the Snowman from “Smokey and the Bandit”) I had only heard Martin play a few times but he played really well.
I really didn’t realize just how cool the man was until Brian took me into his garage and showed me Martin’s 1961 Corvette. I was in awe. How I wanted to take it for a drive, but I never did. I had too much respect for the man to even ask. He did intimidate me a little bit in those days as I said, but over time my respect for him only grew as I got to know him better.
He had incredible business acumen. His advice was always practical, direct and honest. When we had the chance to talk, I hung on every word. He always knew how to point me in the right direction. He has to be one of the top 3 most influential people in my life.
He was unflappable. I never heard him raise his voice or ever say a bad word about anyone. He could say so much with just a look. After some of the stunts we pulled, he still trusted us, which was pretty awesome.
There was this one time where my the clutch on my Suzuki Samurai had given out on Hwy 388 in northern Bay County. I was with Brian and 2 other friends of ours. It had to be after 2 am, but when I called him and asked him for help, he picked us up without any lecture or criticism. Brian was shocked that I called him, but I found out later that he was glad that I thought enough of him to call. “Of course.” I thought. I had nothing but respect for the man. It was a no-brainer in my eyes.
In the years since, I really didn’t see him very often but when I did he was always happy. And why not? As a son of immigrants, he was living the American Dream. He had 2 highly successful children and a grandchild.
I really regret not seeing him after he became ill. I wish I could have told him how much he had helped me without him even knowing it.
I choose to remember him in his prime, driving that 61 Vette one last time.
Memorial Services for Martin Hoemme will take place at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 5813 Red Cloud Circle, Youngstown FL 32466
You Shall Not Pass
“Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!!!”
—-Braveheart (1995)
Keep Calm and Chive On!
From Wikipedia:
The Chive, or theCHIVE.com, is a photo-entertainment website independently owned and operated by Resignation, LLC.
The website’s name is derived from the word archive, representing the “archive” of the internet. Images appearing on TheChive.com are selected by staff from searches of both international and domestic websites as well as daily submissions.
The Chive gained attention for a series of internet hoaxes that began in 2007 and were reported as true stories by mainstream media outlets.
Ron Paul’s strategy working?
I expect a fight at the Tampa convention. This thing isn’t over.
Traditionally the delegate selection process of the Republican Party was known and understood by relatively few until 2008. Ron Paul encouraged his supporters to get involved in the GOP, and they did. They are using what they have learned now in 2012.
CNN said: “Romney will have to take Sarah Palin’s advice not to “marginalize” the Paulites if he is to emerge from the nominating convention with a united party.”
In the delegate process in many of these states, the primary “beauty contest” is only the beginning, especially in a caucus state (NV, IA, MA, MN, AK,etc.) Low turnout helps a committed minority, so when most Republicans think Romney is already the nominee and don’t bother to show up, that helps Ron Paul, the only “anti-Romney” left to get the protest vote.
I will not make any predictions. Deals will be cut...
What will the 10-12% of voters that are Ron Paul supporters do if some kind of deal is cut? How will they be treated at the convention? It will be interesting to watch.
The Catholic vote, 2012
The Catholic vote will be crucial this year. Catholics now comprise 25% to 27% of the national vote, with over 68 million members. Then I read that Catholic leaders are calling for two weeks of public protests against President Barack Obama between June 21 and July 4, 2012. This is unheard of.
85% of today’s Catholics report their faith to be “somewhat” to “very important” to them. How will they react to these protests? I just speak for myself but it’s true, I’m one of “them”. I was raised Catholic. I strongly support religious freedom and the right of the people to speak and act on behalf of their conscience. I hope that many Catholics choose to protest, and that members of the Tea Party join them.
Catholics have split about 50-50 between the two major parties in national elections since 1960. We are about as diverse a demographic as it gets, and Obama cannot win re-election without us. That’s all there is to it.
About me
I am the President of E.L. Wall and Associates, a blog editor, and a libertarian Republican political analyst and strategist. My personal opinions only.
