• Baton Rouge

Mark Martinez of Timber-Mark, Inc. was named the 2009 Louisiana Outstanding Logger by the Louisiana Forestry Association (LFA) and the Louisiana Logging Council. The award was presented to the Zwolle logger at the recent annual convention at the Capitol House Hilton in Baton Rouge.

Martinez and his crew of 11 were judged statewide winners by a team lead by Dr. Clyde Vidrine, retired professor from the Louisiana Tech University School of Forestry. Other judges were Terry Martin with the U.S. Forest Service and Jack McFarland, the 2008 Outstanding Logger.

Martinez is a third generation logger and his father, A.T. Martinez, was the first recipient of the Outstanding Logger award in 1987.

He was nominated for the award by Jody Woodard of Weyerhaeuser. "Whatever job we put him on, he will adapt to it and still get the production and the safety," said Woodard. Tony Sattler, another Weyerhaeuser forester who works closely with him, echoed the same sentiment. "He's the owner but he's hands-on," said Sattler. "You talk to Mark and he's on the job and he's very versatile."

Perhaps his best commendation comes from his son, Stephen, who works on the crew as well. "He gives 110 percent out here and at home on Saturday and Sunday, he's getting ready for the next week."

"All I know is to work hard," said Martinez, something he has done for over 30 years. The 48-year-old logger started full time in the woods at age 17 working for his father and uncle "Pie" Martinez.

Mark Martinez has two brothers who are loggers as well. Forestry consultant Steve Muslow, who is president of the LFA, said he has known the Martinez family for over 25 years. "This is a family that has an extreme amount of integrity," he said.

Mark and his wife Donna have two sons and two daughters. Donna is the bookkeeper for the business.

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