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Area
Auctioneer Remembered
By
LAUREN HOUGH JOURNAL STAFF WRITER MARTINSBURG -- Few
people have the power to make an impact on others just by walking into
a room. Donnie Hockman, to all those who knew him, was one of those
people. Coworkers, friends and family members agreed that the 44-year-old
auctioneer, with his charisma and spirit, truly did have the power
to light up a room.
Hockman ended his battle with a rare form of cancer
on April 30, though all those who knew him will continue to carry his
enthusiasm, passion and charitable spirit with them as a reminder of
the impact he made throughout the community. “It's
going to be very difficult not having a Donnie Hockman around,” said
Theresa, his wife of 24 years. He was a dedicated family man with three
children, 16-year-old Selena, 15-year-old Nathaniel and 6-year-old
Colton. He loved spending time with his kids, Theresa said. “Everybody
knew him and loved him. We did, too,” she said. “He was
all about community -- he was a people person.”
Raised in Shepherdstown,
Hockman volunteered his services as an auctioneer to help many community
organizations, such as St. Joseph Parish School, the March of Dimes,
Hospice and Have a Heart. “He especially wanted to help other
people, not just in his work, but outside his work,” Theresa
said. The Hockmans built their company, Hockman Auctions, LLC, on their
shared ideals of faith, honesty and professionalism.
Donnie Hockman
always referred to the members of the company as a team, said employees. “Donnie
was a very enthusiastic man, that's probably what a lot of people will
know him for,” said Brittani Unger, marketing director for Hockman
Auctions. “He was a joy to be around.” Unger, who worked
with Hockman for about five years, said he frequently gave his team
of dedicated employees credit for the company's success. “The
man's gift was people,” said Teresa Milburn Kelly, graphic designer
for the company. “He was more about taking care of people and
making sure we could do the best job we could.”
As
a person who didn't shy away from competition, but remained dedicated
to being the best he could be, he often was a sponsor auctioneer for
apprentices. “Donnie was a highly motivated
individual, and a very unique individual,” said T.B. Keffer,
one of his former apprentices. “I will probably never in my life
meet someone like him again.” Keffer, now an auctioneer in West
Virginia and Virginia, recalled the fun he had while working under
Hockman. “The time I spent with him when I was trying to emulate
him and trying to be the kind of auctioneer he is, it was the best
time of my life,” he said. Stress is often a part of daily life
for auctioneers, Keffer said, but Hockman, with a twinkle in his eye,
would always end the day laughing. “Anything that he did he always
tried to do the best, there was no middle ground,” he said. “He
really did give 100 percent and more.” Respect was an integral
part of the work Hockman did, Keffer said. Many community members,
though, will likely remember the life he brought to charity events,
such as the St. Joseph Parish school auction he called for about 10
years. “He had a great way to appeal to the parents when he would
be involved with us,” said Kelly Beck, the school's development
director who is in charge of the yearly auction. “He used to
say in the middle of everything, 'It's for the children,' and then,
three, four hundred dollars later, it was sold.” Beck said she
often advised people to come to the auction for the entertainment value
alone. “Everybody just loved him there.”
-- Staff writer
Lauren Hough can be reached at 263-8931, ext. 163, or lhough@journal-news.net
