Ketchum lost one of its own on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, embraced by his wife and family.
David H. "MadDog" Martin was born March 21, 1940, in Bozeman, Mont., to Louella Manning and Scoop Martin. The family moved to Everett, Wash., where his father died when David was 12. His mother married Jay Kane, who loved David and raised him with their children, Tina, Chris, Kathi and Wanda. David learned to commercial fish as a gillnetter with Jay in the waters of Alaska. He served in the Army Reserves with his commanding officer and stepfather, Jay. He married Connie Leggett in 1961 and they had a son, David Troy, one year later. David worked as a longshoreman and log roller to support their young family.
After divorcing, David moved to Sun Valley in 1968, landing the coveted job as a bellman at the Sun Valley Lodge. MadDog's raucous renditions of the escapades with fellow bellmen, movie stars, famous athletes and politicians entertained his family and friends throughout the years. In 1973, with the help of John and Star Weekes, he purchased Sun Valley Taxi-Limo with his partner, Lauren Day. Employing 14 drivers with 12 vehicles, they serviced the transportation needs in and out of the valley. They developed the first KART bus system to run throughout the cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley. The Taxi-Limo slow-pitch softball team, where MadDog vied for the highest pitching arc, as well as the annual season-ending Hackers' Ball, were legendary.
In 1976, David married Tara at Trail Creek Cabin. They raised two sons, Chancey Price and Tyler Mackay. In 1982, David and Tara purchased Silver Creek Outfitters. After selling the business, they moved to Southern California in 1983 to begin Da-Tar Container Co., which Tara still owns and operates today with their partner, Fernando Chucuan.
David was known for his love for his wife of more than 34 years; his three sons; two cherished grand-daughters, Chelsey and Amber; daughter-in-law, Emily; his family in Arlington, Wash.; sisters, Christina and Kathi; his brother, Chris, in Las Vegas; and nephews, Matthew, Kelley, Sean and Cody and niece, Season.
MadDog was proud of his friendships, many of which he had for more than 40 years, and held each very dear: KirkDog, Jimmie, Hornet, Skippy, Dad, the Fish, Darrell, Loose, Jaybird, Brando, Pfaeffle, Willie, Sandy, Bill, Jack in San Pedro, John, Jerry, Michael, Dick Weithorn and countless others. David loved tennis as a player and a spectator of the pros, but mostly as a coach and No. 1 fan to his two younger sons.
MadDog loved a cold one at the Pio on Fridays, the early-morning corduroy on Baldy and socializing more than lifting at the Sun Valley Athletic Club. Since childhood, his favorite teams were the Yankees, the Celtics and the Huskies. His sports heroes were Muhammed Ali, Mickey Mantle and Jimmy Connors. At age 12, he won the Washington State Roller Skating Championship. He loved computerized baseball with Cossman, McKinnon, Limes and the Maccarillo brothers, and golf with his friends. He appreciated the art collection at Dirty Dora's and a shot of Yukon at the Rod and Gun. MadDog believed that music stopped with Elvis and would often demonstrate the Gator as well as the Dance of 1,000 Chickens. In the past few years, David found great peace singing in the choir at Our Lady of the Snows next to Tara. David loved Christmas mornings, his dogs and anything chocolate.
David's family will always be indebted to and humbled by the care that the staff and nurses at Boise Behavioral Health Hospital extended to him and his entire family, the weekly support of Marie Vetsch over the past nine months and the healing touch of Mary Wheeler and Diane Olsen. His family will bury him in the Ketchum Cemetery and a celebration will be planned for a later time. Charitable contributions can be made in David's name to the Atkinson Park Memorial Fund, Box 2315, Ketchum, ID 83340.
MadDog made an indelible mark, was always the life of the party and will be sorely missed!
