THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 4, 1996 TAG: 9608310155
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: CLOSE-UP
LENGTH: 82 lines
Blackhawk Walters wears many hats - from a bright yellow helmet to a feathered headdress. His passions vary from fighting fires to acting to karate.
An American Indian, he is a Virginia Beach fireman, holds a seventh degree black belt and is the U.S. Middleweight Kick-boxing Champion. If that isn't enough, he produced, directed and starred in ``A Comanche's Sacred Love,'' a play he and his wife, Dina Mason-Walters, wrote about Quanah Parker, a Comanche warrior.
Walters has been with the Fire Department 19 years as a professional fire fighter and is presently negotiating for a TV pilot to be produced.
Full name: Bubba Blackhawk Walters
Hometown: Legend says my grandfather found me under a rock in Tuskahoma, Okla., and carried me in his medicine bag until it was my time to appear on the earth plane. I call Hampton Roads my hometown.
What brought you to the Beach? One of my best friends, Chief Larry McInnis, convinced me to join the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
Birthdate: When I was single I let women guess the date of birth. They would guess 1971, 1961 and 1951. They were always correct! I am told the day was March 19.
Occupation: Master firefighter, karate instructor at Blackhawk Kick-Boxing and an actor.
Nickname: Champ and Hawk.
Marital status: Married a beautiful actress May 25, 1996 - Dina Mason-Walters. My soul mate.
Children: One beautiful cat that I love like a daughter. Symbalina White-Paws, age 9.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? To meet one of my best friends Dean Tribbett at the gym and lift weights then go for a 20-mile bike ride alone. Then to pack up the Harley and my wife, to take a nice long ride and find a cozy bed and breakfast for dinner and romance.
Last smart thing you did: Played the part of Chief Quanah Parker in the play ``A Comanche's Sacred Love.''
Last dumb thing you did: Rode my bicycle across the United States in 30 days.
Favorite meal: Fried okra, mashed potatoes, sweet peas, fried squash, onions and strawberries for dessert.
Favorite movies: ``Legends of the Fall,'' ``Last of the Mohicans'' and ``Big Trouble in Little China.''
Favorite song: Anything by Travis Tritt and Little Texas.
Last book read: I always read two books at a time. Keith Fournier's ``And Nothing but the Truth'' and Russell Means' ``Where White Men Fear to Tread.''
Hobbies: Native American storytelling and dancing, karate, bicycling, the Harley and weightlifting.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To have been a heavyweight fighter at 6-feet-2-inches and 225 pounds, instead of a middleweight at 5-feet-9-inches and 160 pounds.
If you could change one thing about your spouse, what would it be? That she would have fallen in love with me 10 years sooner.
Secret vice: I love to spend time completely alone to think and meditate.
Favorite restaurant: Cara's Restaurant in Great Bridge.
Your favorite night on the town: An early dinner at Cara's and a play at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach followed by a romantic walk on the beach with my beautiful wife Dina.
Favorite TV shows: I don't watch much TV, but if time allows I try to catch ``Northern Exposure'' reruns.
Favorite sport: Most people now consider karate a sport but to me it is so much more. It is an art form, a physical discipline, a window to the soul.
Last vacation: My best friend for the last 30 years, Randy Dockery, and I took a three-week vacation and rode our Harleys across the United States.
Worst job: Never had one. My grandfather taught me there's only two ways to be happy about working - learn to love what you do or do what you love.
Of what achievements are you most proud? I kept my vow to my grandfather to do the ``Sacred Red Earth Ceremony.'' It took me 26 years. I had to face lots of obstacles, hostilities and prejudice. Upon completion in July 1994 my road has been on the spiritual path and now my elders have directed me to teach others: ``We're all related - we belong to one tribe, one race - the human race and if we don't save our mother the earth not only will she die but the human race will die with her.''
What would you like as your epitaph? Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before we can meet again. And meeting again after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT by CNB