Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Paid

Job Function

Captain, Firefighter / EMT-Basic, Other Emergency Services Staff, Retired

Years in Fire/EMS:

23 yrs on paid department 35 + total

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Abilene Airport Fire Department

Years With Department/Agency

21.5 yrs AFD and 1.5 with AAFD

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Abilene FD May 20, 1986---November 11, 2007 --RETIRED


Baird VFD

Texas Forest Service Part Time Employee-- Tanker Base

My Training:

Am Texas Certified as Advanced FF, Intermediate Instructor, Basic ARFF, Basic EMT,

DOD Certified as Haz Mat Technician

Many other training classes through Texas A&M University and other training institutes.

Am Extrication and Rescue Instructor.

About Me:

51 year old Cowboy turned FF.

Day Job:

Abilene Airport FD

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I was fixing to lose my job due to poor economy. I worked as animal tech at Veterinary Clinic. I had applied for Game Warden, was waiting to hear from the state of Texas. Several older Abilene Fire Fighters that would bring their horses , cows , well....... animals into the Vet Clinic told me the FD was fixing to have an academy.
I applied, got accepted, fought my first training house/ garage fire and was hooked. I liked helping people, decided I wanted to stay in the fire service for the rest of my life. Up until then I had only fought grass fires on Volunteer fire Dept at Putnam , Texas. We were a small town, when we would have grass fires it was usually on family or good friends land . School would let all the boys out because we were the FFs, under direction of my uncle and great uncle.