Page 9 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Summer 2022 - Online Magazine
P. 9

FIRST RESPONDERS



        During his almost 25-year firefighter
        career, Jerry was stationed at several
        fire stations, including Stations 1, 3,
        4, 6, 10, and the airport fire station.
        In the beginning, Jerry recalls, “There
        were 17 men stationed with me.
        We had two engines, one booster, a
        ladder truck, a hose truck, and a Fire
        District Chief’s car.  On some fires,
        all vehicles ran, then sometimes, only
        my truck.”  Today, the Lubbock Fire
        Department employs 434 uniformed
        and civilian personnel.

        “It was a great blessing for me
        and my family to get to serve as a
        firefighter.”  Jerry saw his time with
        the fire department as a family man
        responding to the needs of others.              to the fire station     life of his family is always on call.
        He remembers                                    to eat, visit, or even   Linda went on to say, “It was a good
        how the work                                    celebrate birthdays     life … a different life, but we had
        schedule of 24                                  or Christmas.” He       friends who shared a similar life. We
        hours on duty                                   said that people don’t   helped each other.”
        and 48 hours                                    always realize what
        off duty only                                   this lifestyle requires.   Responding when that firehouse bell
        sometimes                                       Linda recalls, “It wasn’t   rang was just part of the firefighter’s
        afforded him                                    easy, but you get used   job, and sometimes it meant
        the privilege                                   to it. We actually missed   sliding down poles. “We dropped
        of getting to                                   a third of our lives    everything … whether eating,
        attend his                                      together.” Jerry said,   showering, sleeping,” Jerry recalled.
        daughter’s                                      “Your life was spent    He remembers one time when he
        activities.  But                                knowing that you had    was the only one at the station, and
        “I was blessed                                  to plan your family life”   they got a call about a fire south of
        to have                                         around a firefighter’s   50th Street, outside the Loop. Jerry
        worked with                                     schedule. “Rain or      responded. On his way back to the
        a lot of men                                    shine, hot or cold,     station, after putting out the fire, he
        who allowed                                     Monday or Sunday,       met the Fire Chief. The Chief asked
        our families                                    Christmas or Easter”, a   Jerry why he hadn’t called about the
        to come                                         firefighter’s life and the   fire on the radio. Jerry told the Chief


























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