Oliver G. (Sonny) Martin Jr.
Grew up in Metairie La. (suburb of New Orleans). Places I have lived:
Baton Rouge, La; Austin, Tx; Shreveport, La; Greencastle, IN;
Mechanicsburg, PA; Poughkeepsie, NY; Rochester, MN.
High School Metairie HS; College LSU and LSU Shreveport Associate
degree computer science.
Married; wife Barbara Sorochak (pilot with Instrument rating) :
children Son; Scott. Daughter; Patricia Grenci.
Pipefitter in shipyard (NOLA), Roughneck in oilfield (LA), Carman
ICRR (NOLA), Customer Engineer IBM (Baton Rouge), Product Support
Engineer IBM (Austin TX), Field Manager IBM (Shreveport LA), Staff
Systems Analyst IBM (Greencastle IN), EOL Staff Analyst IBM
(Mechanicsburg PA), EOL Program Manager (Poughkeepsie NY), Avionics Tech
at Clark Aviation (New Cumberland PA). Avionics Shop Manager R C
Avionics (Rochester MN).
My Manager in Mechanicsburg was a pilot and I expressed a desire to
learn to fly. HE set me up for lessons with Clark Aviation at Capital
City Airport (CXY). 1987. I was 51 years old. Went wild with the
training, had my commercial multi instrument with in the first 2 years.
Bought my first airplane in 1989 a Cessna 172G model N4684L. I bought my
next in 1993 a Cessna 182P model N21402. Completed my Van's RV12 in
2012. Great airplane.
Just lucky I guess I have never had any situations that were anything
other but routine flying.
Served 3 Yrs Regular Army Security Agency. Basic at Fort Chafee AR;
MOS training at Fort Devens MA; Advanced Training at NSA Fort Meade MD.
Spent 2 Years at Torii Station Okinawa. Mustered out at Oakland Army
Terminal 1961.
[Editor's note: Sonny is not one to embellish his
accomplishments or skills, but believe me, he is a wealth of information
– as are many in the chapter. If you have an airplane question
(especially avionics) he is always ready to help and usually has the
answer on how to do it, or how to do it better.]