
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 29, 1994                    TAG: 9406280112 
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON                     PAGE: 03    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940629                                 LENGTH:

MARTIN GRUBE\

{LEAD} When Martin Grube isn't gingerly walking across burning roofs or trying to make the back end of the Oceanfront's massive ladder truck follow the front end, the city firefighter relaxes by hurdling water hoses with his camera, taking pictures of other firefighters in action.

On his days off, Grube publishes a national firefighters' magazine out of his Virginia Beach office. He is also president of the Tidewater Fire Photographers Association and is the Fire Department's historian. And now, he's an author.

{REST} Grube has just published a book about - what else - firefighters. ``The Virginia Beach Fire Department, A Pictorial History'' traces the city's firefighting heritage from 1907 to the present.

It took Grube thousands of hours reviewing more than 3,000 photographs and conducting more than 100 interviews to complete the volume, which is being sold at Waldenbooks.

Full name: Martin Christian Grube

Hometown: Charleston, S.C.

What brought you to the Beach? My father was an architect and was hired to design a new hotel/motel chain in the '70s.

Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1958

Occupation: Master firefighter, Virginia Beach Fire Department (Back seat driver!)

Nickname: ``Sweet Pea.'' My long hair as a volunteer firefighter did not agree with the old timers.

Marital status: Married 12 years.

Children: A son, Timothy, 9 years old.

What is your idea of a perfect day off? Bike riding on the Boardwalk, shish-kabob dinner and a bottle, no, two bottles of wine!

Last smart thing you did: Married my wife, who has a perpetual smile.

Last dumb thing you did: Put my foot through a burning roof and almost fell into the fire.

Favorite meal: One without interruption.

Favorite movies: ``Backdraft'' and ``Ace Ventura, Pet Detective.''

Favorite song: Soundtrack from the ``Medicine Man.''

Last book read: Mine - ``The Virginia Beach Fire Department. A Pictorial History.''

Hobbies: Fire photography, New York City fire apparatus in action.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Slow down, too many irons in the fire (no pun intended).

If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? Her mailing address! No, just kidding. I would change nothing. We have had 16 great years so far.

Secret vice: Eating a bag of those greasy White Castle hamburgers every time I go to New York City.

Favorite restaurant: A seafood restaurant on the water.

Your favorite night on the town: Anywhere with my wife and son.

Favorite TV shows: ``Mission Impossible'' reruns, ``Home Improvement.''

Favorite sport: Baseball.

Last vacation: Disney World, Orlando area.

Pets: None.

Worst job: Laborer for a private contractor. We built a house in 41 days.

Of what achievements are you most proud? Being publisher of a firefighters' magazine, and being the Fire Department historian.

What would you like on your epitaph? ``Get off! You are standing on my chest!''

by CNB