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

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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