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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 30
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD
COMMENDATIONS: Commends G.J. "Pie" Martinez on being named the 2014 Sabine
Hall of Fame inductee
A RESOLUTION1
To commend G.J. "Pie" Martinez, the current mayor of Zwolle, Louisiana, on the prestigious2
honor of being named the 2014 Sabine Hall of Fame inductee.3
WHEREAS, G.J. "Pie" Martinez was born on December 11, 1940, in Shreveport,4
Louisiana, to the late G.L. and Catherine Sepulvado Martinez; he was the oldest of three5
brothers and one sister, and received his nickname of "Sweetie Pie" at an early age, which6
was eventually shortened to "Pie"; and7
WHEREAS, G.J. "Pie" Martinez is a 1958 honors graduate of Zwolle High School,8
where he lettered in basketball all four seasons and was voted "most popular" and "Mr.9
Zwolle High" by his classmates; and10
WHEREAS, following high school graduation, G.J. "Pie" Martinez attended11
Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, before enrolling at Spencer12
Draughon Business School in Shreveport, Louisiana; and13
WHEREAS, while being enrolled in school, G.J. "Pie" Martinez worked part time14
for Wonder Bread and his father's timber business, G.L. Martinez Poling and Piling15
Company, which made an impression on his life; and16
WHEREAS, G.J. "Pie" Martinez married Agatha Sepulvado in 1961, and they are17
the parents of four children, grandparents of fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandson18
with another on the way, three step-grandchildren, and four step-great-grandchildren with19
one on the way; and20
WHEREAS, Martinez constantly desired to help others and worked to overcome21 HLS 14RS-1605 ORIGINAL
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any obstacle that he and others in his community encountered; and1
WHEREAS, Martinez began his career in the 1950s and continuously strived to keep2
his knowledge current in the face of changes that he witnessed firsthand, such as the3
replacement of mules and horses by farm tractors with water-filled tires, log hog tractors,4
and various models of John Deere skidders; and5
WHEREAS, in 1961, G.J. "Pie" Martinez became foreman for a handpole peeling6
crew for International Paper Co. located in Zwolle and also made selections of poles to be7
cut, which was a specialized job; and8
WHEREAS, because his hard work and dedication to International Paper Co. was9
evident, the company moved him to supervise a fence post peeling operation in 1962; and10
WHEREAS, in 1964, Martinez returned to his father's business, whereupon, after an11
accident in the woods, he unfortunately lost sight in his left eye; a tragedy that took Martinez12
and his family through hard times, but with G.J. "Pie" Martinez's faith and perseverance, he13
overcame that obstacle and became a stronger man because of it; and14
WHEREAS, Martinez has been labeled as a distinctive leader in his community15
because of the help he offers to others and the support he gives to many fundraisers, youth16
sports teams, the Easter Seals, and blood drives; and17
WHEREAS, over the years, Martinez has had key roles in many aspects of politics18
in Sabine Parish; he was instrumental in giving disabled people the opportunity to drive a19
tractor-trailer rig in Louisiana, he helped with the revision of laws in moving logging20
equipment, he served on a number of boards in Sabine Parish, and was appointed to the21
Advisory Board for the Louisiana Technical College – Sabine Valley Campus, where he22
continues to serve today; and23
WHEREAS, in 1991, Martinez was honored as one of Louisiana's Northwest Loggers24
of the Year; in 1992, he was awarded the Outstanding Community Service Award by the25
Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce; in 1993, he was named to Who's Who in Leading26
American Executives and appointed as a trustee of Sabine Medical Center; in 1994, he was27
asked to serve on the Advisory Board for Peoples State Bank and received the Diocesan28
Medal for Service at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle; and29 HLS 14RS-1605 ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, G.J. "Pie" Martinez is an active and devoted parishioner at St. Joseph's1
Church, where he is a trustee, Eucharistic minister, and a member of the finance and pastoral2
councils; and3
WHEREAS, because of Martinez's hard work and knowledge in logging and forestry,4
he helped establish the Zwolle Logging and Forestry Festival, which will celebrate its5
nineteenth year in May of 2014; he also helped the town of Zwolle purchase and develop the6
festival grounds; and7
WHEREAS, G.J. "Pie" Martinez spent fifty-five years in the logging business, from8
which he retired in 2002; he holds the honor of being named Area Outstanding Logger and9
was presented the Director Emeritus Award from the Louisiana Forestry Association; in10
2007, he was inducted into the Louisiana Loggers' Hall of Fame; and11
WHEREAS, in 2010, G.J. "Pie" Martinez decided to run for Mayor of Zwolle and12
is in the position that he currently holds, because he loves serving and working for the13
betterment of his hometown.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the15
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend G.J. "Pie" Martinez on being named the16
seventeenth inductee into the Sabine Hall of Fame. 17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted18
to G.J. "Pie" Martinez.19
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Howard HR No. 30
Commends G.J. "Pie" Martinez on being named the 17th inductee into the Sabine Hall of
Fame.