Del Rio Texas - Chito Martiarena - What We Can All Learn From The Hardest-Working Man

​Who is this guy?  Like just about everyone else that does a double-take the first time they see Chito, I didn’t know what exactly to think.  My first impression, however, was nothing further from the truth.

​Jose Angel “Chito” Martiarena – a Del Rio native often seen pushing a train of children’s wagons with flashy balloons and road cones attached to a lawnmower down Veteran’s Boulevard, continues to inspire me.

Before you read any further, you have to watch this 9-minute video from the Texas Country Reporter.

​Chito is – for lack of a better term – a landscaper.  His specialty is mowing lawns – but different from all other local landscapers, Chito almost exclusively mows for free – including the grassy medians of Veteran’s Boulevard.  He can be seen out there day, night, hot, cold – it doesn’t seem to matter – and he doesn’t take a cent. 

I had the privilege of crossing paths with Chito at AutoZone the other day.  I noticed Chito at the register counting coins to purchase a $2 Coca-Cola from the cooler at the store.  One-handed, he counted, one-by-one. 
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It was about 95 degrees outside, and I had noticed his lawnmower entourage coned off along the highway when I had driven in.  I’m sure he was exhausted and thirsty.  I was beat, and I had been working in an air-conditioned office all day.  The least I could do was buy his drink for him.

Chito - Being Awarded the First "Del Rio Doin' Right" Award from the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce

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Dedication to his family.  Chito continues to mourn his beloved father’s death – and feels a responsibility to care and provide for his mother.  He mows lawns for free – although he apparently has a few paying customers.

​How does mowing for free provide for his family?  Although I can only speculate about the mystery of Chito’s mind, I honestly believe that Chito believes in earning his money.  While he may receive a monthly disability check in the mail, I think a strong case can be made that Chito feels compelled to “earn” this compensation by service to his community – Del Rio.  

Chito - during an interview with the Texas Country Reporter

Chito doesn’t ask for money.  I had to convince him to even let me buy him a Coke – and I honestly feel like he more just didn’t want to argue with me about who would pay for it because he felt like he needed to get back to work along the busy highway in the scorching sun.  I don’t think Chito even asks for a “thank you”.  Chito just sees things a little differently than us narrow-minded, semi-successful citizens. 

Chito - From Texas Country Reporter

But Chito didn’t seem to understand – in his mind, it was his own drink, so he should purchase it with his money.  After insisting – I think he finally got the point and began to put each coin, one-by-one, back into his pocket.  ​

Everyone wonders why Chito mows endlessly for free – especially because his disabilities prevent him from speaking.  In fact, his physical disabilities give him every excuse to not work at all, but he’s not that kind of man.  I believe that Chito understands more about hard work, community, responsibility, and family than any of us will ever be able to understand.  Each of us can learn from Chito’s example.

Chito holds up a piece of cardboard littered on the side of the road

Community Pride.  Chito’s community is his life.  Del Rio is his life.  Born and raised here, Chito does everything in his power to beautify Del Rio.  While a one-man landscaping crew can only play a small part in maintaining the roadsides in a community as large as Del Rio, Chito continues to work longer and later than the highway department does.  Chito pulls the weeds, trims the grass, and collects trash up and down the streets of Del Rio – simply because needs to be done.  One article even commented that Chito believes that tall grass along the highway by the car dealerships prevents prospective buyers from seeing the cars – and he wants the dealerships to sell cars!

One of Chito's Road Cones

He inspires us to give our time, effort, talents, and passions to our community, simply because it’s our home.  He inspires us to embody and encourage hard work and sense of duty over laziness and irresponsibility.  “Entitlement” doesn’t exist in Chito’s vocabulary, even though he has that right more than most of us.  Chito exemplifies how priorities should be arranged in life – family, community…and lastly – himself.  He is the epitome of a dedicated, hard worker – not because it results in personal gain, but because it’s just the right thing to do.  It’s not about glory, wealth, or even long-lasting health for Chito – it’s about using the gifts God gave him at their max potential solely for the purpose of making a difference here in Del Rio.  Chito has taught me more about life than any life-skills coach could ever teach me, and yet he hasn’t spoken a distinguishable word to me.

If you’re interested in supporting Chito, he’s not hard to find.  Look for the trail of wagons attached to an old lawnmower with a bunch of balloons and road cones.  Tell him you appreciate him, thank him, pat him on the back, and spend a moment or two talking to him (and he’ll understand you).  Chito gives it all for Del Rio, the least Del Rio can do for him is offer their gratitude (and a bottle of water, perhaps). 
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-Dan