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.”
Even those he met while working had a tendency to fall in love with Hockman upon meeting him, said Darwin Plumlee, of Plumlee Auction Services, who often worked with him. “He was the most charismatic-type person you would ever want to meet,” Plumlee said. “He tried to be the most professional person he could be -- that's how he ran his business and his life.”
Hockman, who had the prestigious honor of recently being inducted into the West Virginia Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame, advised Plumlee to continue his tradition of rigorous professionalism, saying there wasn't enough of such tendencies in the world. Plumlee began selling real estate with Hockman just about five years ago. “It was the greatest thing that could have happened, because we just hit it off from the very beginning,” he said. “He became my very best friend. I loved him like a brother.”
Through his business, Hockman was able to make an impact across the state of West Virginia, Plumlee said. 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

Home | Top of Page

Disclaimer: All information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.
Copyright 2007
Hockman Auctions, LLC