"I have never known life without Dr Pepper. My father enjoyed Dr Pepper immensely so I grew up with it in our household. Throughout my years of trying various soft drinks and attempts at mimicking the king of beverages, Dr Pepper has remained my favorite soft drink.
I began collecting Dr Pepper items in high school. As friends and family became acquainted with my increasing joy and enthusiasm for Dr Pepper I began to receive various collectibles throughout the year. My collection has steadily grown from cups and bottles to grocery store marketing items, t-shirts, hats, bottle trays, picnic baskets, blankets, a neon sign and other tin signs. The Dr Pepper Museum in Waco has also provided access to many other items that fit my personality.
So what does Dr Pepper mean to me? Here's a story that should illustrate my love for the best soft drink on the planet! A decade ago I began my higher education at a university in Southern California. Though university meal plans were not very spectacular the cafeteria provided many different soft drinks for us. Dr Pepper was one of them. Heaven! During the summer of 1995 the catering company decided to switch vendors. We returned from a glorious summer only to find that Dr Pepper had been removed, replaced by a competing vendor that will not be named. Nooooo! This could not be! Could I switch schools? No, too drastic! Motivated by this sad turn of events, some fellow Dr Pepper fans and I began a petition campaign to encourage the catering company to seek a special exemption for Dr Pepper. We continually left voice messages, cafeteria notes, and other items to illustrate the loss that we felt. Above and beyond this I gathered together some good friends who loved Dr Pepper and we began the groundwork to form the Biola Society of Dr Pepper Drinkers, commonly known as the Dr Pepper Club. With over 100 people "signed up" for the club we provided additional leverage to bring our friend back to college with us. Our efforts succeeded! On September 26, 1995 at approximately 2pm in the afternoon, the catering company installed Dr Pepper in the soft drink fountain! As fate would have it, later that evening we held our first official meeting of the Dr Pepper Club. It was a magnificent occasion and we celebrated with a toast to Dr Pepper! Go team!
My love for Dr Pepper has not diminished. I bring my enthusiasm for Dr Pepper wherever I go and wherever I work. I encourage fellow Dr Pepper drinkers and look for opportunities to introduce others to the joy that is Dr Pepper."
Thank you Martin for your support of Dr Pepper and the Dr Pepper Museum!!
7 comments:
I have known Martin for 4 years now...and his enthusiasm and love for Dr. Pepper is so real that it is catching. I must admit that before I met Martin I never had a favorite soft drink...but now - Dr. Pepper is definitely at the top of my list. Martin's the best, and, yes, he really does decorate everything with Dr. Pepper (and neon green!) We luv ya, Martin!
Martin is my older brother and we sure have had more than our share of Dr. Pepper throughout the years. One Christmas, he wrote a song about our favorite drink and all 13 grandchildren stood around the piano and sang it, much to the joy of our parents and grandparents. =) I'll never forget that Christmas! Congratulations Martin! What an honor, the FIRST fan of the month!
I will never forget that Christmas. Who sings Dr. Pepper songs on Christmas, you ask?!? We do. Because of Martin! I can't look at a Dr. Pepper bottle/can/logo without thinking of my brother. Way to go Martin...the FIRST fan of the month!
Congratulations, Martin! You deserve this award. I'm proud of you. You have always been so enthusiastic about Dr Pepper, and like Katie said, it is catching. I'm glad you are being recognized. I'll also never forget the song you wrote and the cousins performed that Christmas! I've always enjoyed your enthusiasm for Dr Pepper and all the information you found out about the company and the product that you shared with me. It's been quite interesting. Way to go, Son.
Mary Beth
Interesting but his family seem to work for Dr. Pepper, so that is cheating. I think you need real collector with out any relationship to the company. Don't turn people off by butting someone that can get Dr. Pepper things off his family.
Just for the record, Ms. Mary Beth, no one from our family has ever worked for Dr. Pepper, and neither has Martin. He's just a HUGE fan. Please, feel free...research the company. You won't find us. No need to be turned off... he just LOVES Dr. Pepper, Hence, the "FAN OF THE MONTH" title.
Nope, not related to anyone who works for Dr Pepper as my sister pointed out! Though if I become the President or CEO of the Dr Pepper/7-Up company at some point in the future, I'll no longer be able to claim that ;)
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