Celebrating D.G. Martin Day in Chapel Hill

I am famous for having been the Democratic candidate to follow D.G. Martin’s congressional campaigns in Charlotte in 1984 and 1986. I ran in the same district in 1988 and 1990.

Now I know how Roger Maris felt in 1961 when Mickey Mantle got injured and couldn’t make the full run for the home run title held at that time by Babe Ruth.

D.G. Martin was the candidate that everybody in the Democratic Party wanted to go to Washington back in 1984 and 1986, and I was just a poor substitute when I tried to follow D.G.’s illustrious and noble campaigns in 1988 and 1990.

And D.G. actually carried Mecklenburg County when he ran for Congress in the 9th District, only the district had been stacked with strongly Republican counties to the north and west which is why we did not have the opportunity and the privilege to be represented by D.G. Martin in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Yes, I would rather play second fiddle in a country and bluegrass band than have to follow D.G. again in politics, journalism or any other pursuit!

As a free-lance editorial essay writer, my hat is off to D.G. Martin because even though he won renown and high regard for his work as an attorney-at-law, he has left us would-be roving newspaper columnists back in the dust of the Carolina red clay by landing columns all across the state, and it’s no wonder, because so many people enjoy reading D.G.’s book and commentary columns all the way from Manteo to Murphy.

But one of the best things about D.G. Martin is his one-of-a-kind interviewing style on WCHL radio, the progressive voice of reason and compassion in the flagship city of the University of North Carolina. Maybe if you listen closely next time D.G. is doing a radio show on WCHL you will notice the astounding D.G. Martin one-on-one radio style that he somehow must have developed from his days on the basketball court playing for Lefty Driesell’s Davidson Wildcats.

Yes, friends, you cannot help but be impressed by how D.G., in talking to a guest on his radio show, can re-phrase a question in mid-sentence, leaving listeners wondering with delight: now how is the guest going to answer this question because it was completely re-phrased in mid-sentence!

But that’s where the charm and the intellect, the personal dedication and the good sense of fellowship of D.G. Martin all come into play when you have the privilege of listening to D.G. in conversation, whether in person or over the airwaves of WCHL in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Happy D.G. Martin Day, from Chapel Hill to Davidson and beyond!

 

— David McKnight