Rick Martinez:
CLASS OF 1979
Woodward High SchoolClass of 1979
Toledo, OH
Whitmer High SchoolClass of 1982
Toledo, OH
Central Catholic High SchoolClass of 1981
Toledo, OH
Macomber Vocational High SchoolClass of 1978
Toledo, OH
Hamilton SchoolClass of 1976
Toledo, OH
Rick's Story
Life
Hi all, Woodard and the Toledo area was fun while I lived there. I decided to leave in 1981. Enlisted in the USAF, I now live in Tucson AZ. I have never forgotten the friends and loves that has made me a big differance in my life. Today I smile, Thanks!
Rick Martinez, WoodWard class of 1979.
P.S. I will be posting pictures soon :)
07/13/10
HI, how is everyone? Well as for me now I am fully retired and doing well, I don't work any more I have made some smart choices, that is why I am retired at such a young age 41.......hhhmmmm well I will turning 54 on the 06-29-14, I hunt and fish or help friends or I am making new additions to my house, the first picture is a view from my back yard. Since then I sold that house and had another one built . closer to the city of Tucson Az. Hey I had to leave Toledo for several reasons,
1. The drug seen was starting to take me down and I just had to get way, that is one thing that I did not want to ruin my life, At first, I thought getting high was cool, yeah until one day I looked at my self in the mirror and decited in order to change for the better I just had to leave Toledo, so I returned back into the miltary (Airforce) for the way out, that was the best choice I have ever made. I tried too look for someone to go with me, my high school sweet heart no longer wanted me. A local drug dealer and other young men took her away from me after I had returned from bootcamp. Don't get me wrong with drugs in my young life, I was in the mix and buy now was an addict. I ruined my relationship with her, and now I wish I could take it all back and start over as new lovers with out drugs in our relationship. I know as young as we were we made each other feel loved with out any obstacles in our way, I tried to get her out of Toledo but to no avail.
2. I tried to look for someone to go with me, and not look back and start a new change, away from the bad influences of certain friends and to avoid being another law enforcement statistic in Toledo. But no takers.
3. Employment was another reason to leave, I had a somewhat of a good job at burger king on cherry st, this is were I met Pam Fountain, she was always smiling at me. Pam I am sorry I could not find you diuring my times in distress, I would have not let you go from my arms, but at the same time education had no room for long haired hippies on drugs like me and working at buger king was not going to be my career of choice.
4. After being broken hearted it was time to go, I went to look for all ...Expand for more
the friends I had and said my good by's and wished them well...funny some were saying Rick you will be back, I just smilled and said too them may God be with you, here we have our neighborhood and this city, I was determind to see the world, and be a man with no dependence from anyone. and I accomplished that. When I go to Toledo, back to visit my sisters and their family, and my mom and dad, I take my rental car and visit my old friends from the neighborhood where I grew-up and for sure I happen to run into one or more of my old friends, they fill me in on what has happened in the ole neighborhood, they tell me things such as...like what has what has happend since I left Toledo and , a) who's dead. b) who's in prision. c) who still lives at their moms and dads house, facttoid, and they are the same ones who told me I would not make it, They are still doing drugs to this day and When I see them I think it is because the fact is I made it out of the hood and don't due illgeal drugs and went to college and finished two degrees and I have an (Airframe & powerplant certificate) to work on aircraft. I am still working on my third BA as of now I have seven classes left and hopefully get my masters after that, don't get me wrong, I care for my homies. All of us have chosen a life path to live
Well now I was on my own, yes I home sick but after a while it was nice to do what ever I wanted.
5. After four weeks I went cold turkey and stoped doing all drugs!!!! and got clean, since 1982 to present I am still drug free... except for cold beers and a Dallas footbal game or an Ohio statefootball game I love to see watching sports. I have returned to Toledo depending on the occation but only too visit only.
6. The last time I was there I saw old homie's and other friends they asked if I wanted to smoke a joint, I just smilled and said no thanks...they looked at me as if I were sick... I was there because I was walking the same way I walked from school to home or to my girlfriends house I just wanted to remember the smell of the walk, I take classes just to keep me busy ...funny... I was a dopehead junkie and a looser
I changed all that!
I make $73.400 not working and retired, not bad. I retired in 2001 at age 41.
I just had leave Toledo and all the people I loved and cared. Leaving Toledo was a wise but hard choice leaving jelly behind. Go polar bears!!!!!!!!! go buckeyes!!
Write me, we will 'talk of glory days passing by glory days" ( The Boss ).
Rick Martinez, Woodword class of 1979.
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