46 minute read
The Rural Firefighter: Corey Conrady
Drummond FD
This article is dedicated to all fire departments, not just rural, and the kinds of things we deal with as firefighters who live and serve in the communities we have grown up in.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing - Critical Incident Stress Management
What is it? What does it do? When I came on the job, you simply dealt with the stresses of the stuff that you saw: burned bodies and severe trauma to the human body. It wasn’t always the gory stuff that got to you, either. Children sitting in highchairs with cockroaches crawling through their food, the stench of some homes, or simply the unkind acts committed toward other human beings were also unsettling. We dealt with this stuff in many ways -- humor, exercise, teasing and hazing, getting away from the crew for a little bit, or simply going home and hugging the kids or kicking the dog! Since the end of World War II and the Vietnam War, there have been numerous studies dealing with stress. Much of what was learned was passed to other professions, including the fire service.
What is Critical Incident Stress?
Here’s a definition from OSHA. Workers responding to emergency events and or disasters will see and experience events that will strain their ability to function. These events, which include having to witness or experience tragedy, death, serious injuries and threatening situations are called “Critical Incidents.” The physical and psychological well-being of those experiencing this stress, as well as their future ability to function through a prolonged response, will depend upon how they manage this stress.
How do I recognize Critical Incident Stress?
Critical incidents may produce a wide range of stress symptoms, which may appear immediately at the scene, a few hours later or within days of the incident. Stress symptoms usually occur in four different categories: Cognitive (thinking), Physical (body), Emotional (feelings) and Behavioral (actions). The more symptoms experienced, the more powerful the stress reaction. The longer the symptoms persist, the more potential there is for lasting harm.
Signs & Symptoms
Individuals express stress in different ways and therefore manifest different reactions. The list below is not exhaustive but will help to identify workers who are exhibiting stress reactions. When persons experience significant stress from a critical incident, the following steps may help to reduce the stress until the incident is over or until the U.S. SAR Task Force Critical Incident Stress Management Team arrives: ● Limit exposure to sights and sounds. ● Provide an immediate rest break of at least 15 minutes. ● Have someone stay with the distressed person. ● Provide non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated fluids. ● Allow the person to talk about the experience. ● Protect the person from bystanders and the media. ● Reassure the person that the stress experience is normal; most people recover very well from stress. ● Show appreciation for the person’s work. ● Do nothing to embarrass the person. ● Listen to the person. ● Don’t take the person’s anger or other feelings personally. Don’t tell them that they are “lucky it was not worse” – traumatized people are not consoled by those statements. Instead, tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred and you want to understand and assist them. Fortunately, help is available.
What is Critical Incident Stress Debriefing?
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is a facilitator-led group process conducted soon after a traumatic event with individuals considered to be under stress from trauma exposure. When structured, the process usually (but not always) consists of seven steps: Introduction; Fact Phase; Thought Phase;
Reaction Phase; Symptom Phase; Teaching Phase; and Re-entry
Phase. During the group process, participants are encouraged to describe their experience of the incident and its aftermath, followed by a presentation on common stress reactions and stress management. This early intervention process supports recovery by providing group support and linking responders to further counseling and treatment services if they become necessary. Again help is available. if you need immediate support with a critical stress event in Oklahoma, contact the Oklahoma Fire
Service Chaplains. Or in an emergency, contact Pastor Gary
Lillie (Hawley Fire) at 580-541-5980 or Brett Key (Warriors Rest
Foundation) at 405-252-7489.
PHYSICAL
● Fatigue ● Chills ● Unusual thirst ● Chest pain ● Headaches ● Dizziness
COGNITIVE
● Uncertainty ● Confusion ● Nightmares ● Poor decision making ability ● Poor concentration, memory ● Poor problem solving ability
EMOTIONAL
● Grief ● Fear ● Guilt ● Intense anger ● Apprehension & depression ● Irritability ● Chronic anxiety
BEHAVIORAL
● Inability to rest ● Withdrawal ● Antisocial behavior ● Increased alcohol consumption ● Change in communications ● Loss/increase in appetite
n 1942-47 ... Oklahoma City FD n 1938 ... Brooklyn Dodgers (MLB) n 1934-37 ... St Louis Cardinals (MLB) n 1929-42 ... Minor League Baseball (14 teams) Nicknamed “Cowboy,” Winford spent 12 of his 14 years in pro baseball with the Cardinals organization.
WILLIAM MCKIM
n 1956-80 ... Tulsa FD (FM) n 1950s-60s ... Professional Wrestler
In wrestling circles he was known as “Wild Red McKim.” In 877 matches, he compiled 331 wins, 276 defeats and 159 draws.
CLAUDE REX
n 1968-96 ... Oklahoma City FD (Maj) n 1967 ... OKC Plainsmen (PFLA)
After high school, Rex played semi-pro football for the OKC Plainsmen in the Pro Football League of America.
ERNEST GILLIS
n 1909-34 ... Tulsa FD n 1900s ... Professional Wrestler
“Tulsa is to have its first wrestling match in over a year’s time, when Cyclone Sullivan of Chicago will meet Ernest Gillis, the Tulsa Fire Department heavyweight.” -- 1911 Tulsa World
DENNY KENNEDY
n 1964-84 ... Oklahoma City FD n 1964 ... Chattanooga Lookouts (MiLB) n 1963-64 ... Bakersfield Bears (MiLB) n 1962 ... Miami Marlins (MiLB) n 1961 ... Elmira Pioneers (MiLB)
Steve Peters made it to the big leagues in 1987. Not only that, the former Moore High School and OU baseball player was on the St. Louis Cardinals team that won the National League Pennant and played in the World Series. “Winning the pennant and going to the World Series was crazy good,” Peters said in a 2019 Facebook video posted by the Oklahoma City Fire Department. “There’s a lot of getting in shape and preparing your body to succeed, and it’s the same thing here (at OKC FD). Every time you roll out of here, it is a team atmosphere.” In high school and college, Peters was a team standout. He was named 1981 Oklahoma HS Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Moore HS. And in 1985 while pitching at OU, he posted 14 wins and zero losses -- a record that stood for almost a decade. Peters was 24 when he pitched in his first MLB game -- Aug. 11, 1987, vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I couldn’t feel my legs when I was pitching, he said. “I didn’t know how I was going to throw strikes, but I ended up able to throw a strike.” Peters pitched in 56 games total for the Cardinals, finishing his first season with a 1.80 ERA. He decided to retire halfway through the 1991 season when he was playing Triple A ball with the Oklahoma City 89ers. “As much as I loved playing baseball and the excitement of
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Featured at left and right are past pro athletes who served in the Oklahoma Fire Service.
A special thanks goes out to Tulsa Fire Historian Dan Little for helping identify TFD’s past and present pro athletes. OWEN CASTLEBERRY
n 1910-19 ... Tulsa FD n 1920-21 ... Pro Boxer (Record: 1-1)
“The 1922 Inauguration Card of the Oil City Athletic Club was completed with the signing of Owen Castleberry, Pride of the Tulsa Fire Department.” -- 1921 Tulsa World
Pro Athletes Who Became Oklahoma Firefighters
Firefighters are considered tactical athletes by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The 16 Oklahoma firefighters featured on the cover and the next few pages can also be called professional athletes. They played sports for a living before joining the fire service. Of course, there are many, many more Oklahoma firefighters out there who played pro sports. These individuals were kind enough to share their stories Oklahoma Firefighter sent out a call for participators.
STEVE PETERS
n 1992-2021 ... Oklahoma City FD (Maj) n 1987-1988 ... St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) n 1985-1991 ... Minor League Baseball (9 Teams) n Selected by St. Louis Cardinals in 5th round of 1985 MLB Amateur Draft. Pitched 56 games for Cardinals and picked up his only MLB save on Oct. 2, 1987.
playing and competing, I was missing everything that my kids did, so it was time for me to retire. “My brother Kenny was an Oklahoma City police officer and he loved his job. But I had a whole lot of friends who I went to high school with and played high school ball against who were firefighters in Oklahoma City and in the surrounding areas. “So I applied for the Oklahoma City Fire Department and was hired. I absolutely loved my job. Every day was a new day. The fire stations were like club houses. Plus I got to help people on a daily basis. “Being a fireman allowed you to be as good as you wanted to be with practice and training. And we always had the best equipment to be able to do our job.” Peters retired from OCFD on Dec. 1, 2021. He served 29 1/2 years at Station 30.
Angel Goodrich Worked Hard to Fulfill Her Dream of Playing Professional Basketball
At 5-foot-4, Angel Goodrich was a basketball standout. She led Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah to three consecutive Class 3A girls basketball state titles. She became the Kansas Jayhawks’ all-time career assists leader with 771. And in 2013, she was the highest-drafted Native American player in the history of the WNBA. The Tulsa Shock picked her in the 3rd round, and she was the 29th pick overall. Goodrich played three seasons in the WNBA -- two with Tulsa Shock and one with Seattle Storm. She also played overseas in Russia (2013) and Poland (2015-16). But in 2016, she was released from the WNBA. “I felt it was best to hang up the sneakers when I wasn’t asked to join a different team,” Goodrich said. “At that moment, I wasn’t sure on my career. I tried many different things and it took awhile, but eventually I found my home with the Tulsa Fire Department.” Goodrich joined TFD in 2019. And it was the 2018 California wildfires that inspired her to become a firefighter. “I wanted to help in some way or another, but at the moment, I had no idea I wanted to be a firefighter. “As a couple of weeks went by, fate led me to the Tulsa Fire Department booth at the Tulsa State Fair. I signed up that day to be a part of Camp Inferno. It consisted of a day for young women to experience the job doing different skills and training. It was very challenging. “That’s what led me to sign up for Tulsa’s next hiring exam a few weeks later. Not only would I be challenged physically, but I also would have the opportunity help others.” Goodrich finds a lot of similarities between sports and the fire service. The team and family aspects are the ones she likes the most. “You have to work together as a team to get the job done,” she said. “Another thing I enjoy about being a firefighter is helping others who are having a rough day. Sometimes it’s not the best situation, but being part of something bigger than me is the enjoyment.” ANGEL GOODRICH n 2019-Now ... Tulsa FD n 2015 ... Seattle Storm (WNBA) n 2013-14 ... Tulsa Shock (WNBA) Selected by Tulsa Shock in 3rd round of 2013 WNBA draft (29th pick overall). In September 2015, Goodrich got her first WNBA double-double (12 pts, 10 reb).
DENNY KENNEDYJACK HURLEY n n n 1964-84 ... Oklahoma City FD n 1964 ... Chattanooga Lookouts (MiLB) n 1963-64 ... Bakersfield Bears (MiLB) 1919-20 ... Tulsa FD 1920s ... Pro Boxer n 1962 ... Miami Marlins (MiLB) n 1961 ... Elmira Pioneers (MiLB) “1922 Inaugural Fistic Program ... Jack Hurley’s bout with Mickey Farris will mark his Kennedy compiled a career BA of .203 first appearance in the ring since his defeat with 3 HR and 56 RBI in his to Peewee Martin.” -- 1921 Tulsa World 188-game minor league career. ANDY SWITZER
n 1919 ... Tulsa FD n 1919-20 ... Pro Boxer (Record 1-1, 1 KO)
“There was quite a crowd at Grand Athletic Club to see participants of the Saturday card in training. Switzer, the fighting fireman, boxes C. Daniels.” -- 1919 Tulsa World LESLIE ROGERS
n 1972-93 ... Tulsa FD n 1971 ... Daytona Beach Dodgers (MiLB) n 1970 ... Medford Dodgers (MiLB)
Rogers compiled a career BA of .276 with 7 HR and 71 RBI in his 156-game minor league career. Drafted by Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 1970 MLB Amateur Draft. Oklahoma FirefighterFebruary/March/April 2022 27
Tyler West Hopes to Enter MMA Ring Again in April
Two years ago, Tyler West decided to turn pro in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. And two years ago, West decided to become a firefighter. He is a full-time fireman at the Cleveland Fire Department. “I find a good similarity between the fire service and wrestling/ MMA,” West said “When times are hard and I’m under stressful situations, I remember that no matter what, I can keep going and do whatever it is that I can to continue. “It’s a mentality that I’ve noticed a lot of firemen and athletes have in common. We always push each other to be the best we can!” West fights in the 135-pound weight class (also known as featherweight). He has two professional fights under his belt and holds a 1-1 record. His win was a first-round TKO in 2019. He hopes he’ll have another shot at a win at the Smoke & Guns MMA & Boxing charity event April 23 in Tulsa. The event raises money for the Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp and Special Olympics of Oklahoma. “I’ve wrestled my entire life,” said West, a two-time placer at state for Cleveland HS. “After college, one of my mentors/ coaches was doing MMA, so I started training with him. “I enjoy the rush I get from stepping in the cage and being locked in there with a guy who’s ready to throw down.” West chose the fire service after hearing good things about it from his best friend’s dad, Brian Hickerson, who is a TFD District Chief. “He told me about the fire service and how well it’s treated him over the years, and the life-long friends you make along the way. Hearing all of that made me want to at least give it a try and see if it’s a career I’d love.” n 2019-Now ... Cleveland FD n 2019-Now ... MMA (Record: 1-1)
Ranked 32 of 35 active Oklahoma Pro Featherweights. Ranked 115 of 126 active US Southwest Pro Featherweights. Ranked 763 of 846 active United States Pro Featherweights.
Aaron Goins
n 2001-Now ... Tulsa FD (Lt) n 1989-1991 ... GLC Reds (MiLB)
Selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 2nd round of 1989 MLB Amateur Draft.
Aaron Goins with wife Shannah and daughters, who both play D1 soccer. Kyler, left, plays at Kansas State and will be a senior next year. Parker was drafted by Racing Louisville in the 3rd round and reported to Louisville Feb 1. She was 1st Team All-American this year at Arkansas.
For Aaron Goins, Playing Baseball Was Job and Oklahoma Fire Service Is Family
Three days into his pro baseball career, Aaron Goins suffered a stress fracture in his left foot while running bases during practice. It sidelined him for several weeks, but he returned to the outfield for the GLC Reds. “I was in the minor leagues, so it was more like a job.” Goins said. “The money was good — not like today — and the free time was nice. “Baseball was a job that I don’t think I was prepared mentally for, so when I quit I went back to school (to OU on a football scholarship) to try to figure out my career path. “My dad was a fireman and I always thought that would be a rewarding job, so I applied.” Goins’ dad Dennis was a Tulsa Fire Captain for 29 1/2 years. And he also has two brothers on the job. Bryan, a Captain, has 33 years on with TFD. Brent, a TFD Deputy Chief, has 24 years on. Goins himself will have 21 years with Tulsa FD in April. He was promoted to Lieutenant 17 years ago. “The fire service and sports are very similar in some ways but not in others,” Goins said. “You are part of a team in the fire service and you spend a third of every year with the guys, so they become family. You have to rely on your crew because your life could depend on it. “The firehouse is really like a locker room, too. There are practical jokes being played and it’s a lot of fun.”
Chris Chamberlain was the first athlete at Bethany High School to earn a Division 1 scholarship. He was a 4-year starter at linebacker for Tulsa and graduated with a degree in business. “As a college player, I knew I was a good football player and could play with anybody,” he said. “However, I was never the biggest, fastest or strongest, and therefore the NFL was never really on my mind or something I thought was attainable.” But Tulsa coach Todd Graham insisted Chamberlain train for Pro Day and give the NFL a shot. And a great showing at Pro Day helped him land a 3-year $1.186 million contract with the St. Louis Rams in 2008. “What I enjoyed most was the competition,” he said. “Every day, you were surrounded by some of the most talented people in the world. “Getting to compete with and against that kind of talent was a huge challenge every day and a great motivator to continue to try and get better.” Unfortunately, Chamberlain’s NFL career -- 4 years with the Rams and 1 1/2 seasons with the New Orleans Saints -- ended due to a knee injury and complications as a result of an infection. Chamberlain went back to school and got a master’s degree in business. But he soon discovered that he didn’t want to be stuck in an office all day. “My brother-in-law Blake Taliaferro had actually been planting the bug in my ear for years about getting on with the fire department after my playing days,” he said. “At the time, he had been on for about 12 years in Norman and absolutely loved it. Now that I was done playing and searching for a sense of purpose, I felt it could be a great fit. “I really enjoy helping people and serving my community. I enjoy being a member of a team and solving complicated problems together. I enjoy being pushed and challenged physically and mentally. I enjoy going to work and having no clue what challenges the day will bring. “Firefighting is an extremely challenging profession but extremely rewarding, as well.”
CHRIS CHAMBERLAIN
n 2018-Now ... Oklahoma City FD (Cpl) n 2017-2018 ... Richland FD n 2012-2013 ... New Orleans Saints (NFL) n 2008-11 ... St. Louis Rams (NFL)
Selected by St. Louis Rams in 7th round of 2008 NFL Draft. Led Rams in special teams tackles for two consecutive seasons (19 in 2008, 28 in 2009).
Chris Chamberlain with wife Amy and children Carter, Colt and Aisly
Marriage More Important Than Minor League Baseball for Jeramie Simpson
In 1995, Jeramie Simpson was named Most
Valuable Player for the Kingsport Mets minor league baseball team. For him, though, the highlight of his career was being able to impact the live of young fans. “My biggest goal was to allow the love of Christ to shine through me and into the lives of kids,” he said. But after four seasons in the minors, the Edmond Memorial HS grad hung up his glove. “I retired from baseball in 1997 simply because I chose my marriage,” Simpson said. “Professional sports is a hard life -- always gone, on the road. It was not the life I had wanted for me and my wife Tamara. I loved playing the game, but I loved my wife more! JERAMIE SIMPSON
n 2000-Now ... Warr Acres FD (Capt) n 1996-97 ... Capital City Bombers (MiLB) n 1996 ... St. Lucie Mets (MiLB) n 1995 ... Kingsport Mets (MiLB) n 1994 ... GCL Mets (MiLB)
Selected by New York Mets in 12th round of 1994 MLB Amateur Draft.
“When I got home, I tried several different jobs, but none of them brought happiness. None of them allowed me to make an impact on my community like I had wanted. None of them made me feel like I was part of a team, a brother. “The fire service, at least from the outside, looked perfect for fulfilling all my desires of a career.” Simpson was right about the fire service. He has been at Warr Acres FD for almost 22 years. “I am the chaplain at our department which gives me the greatest honor of serving my brothers in the best and worst of times. I work with the best group of men I could ever ask for, and I would not trade it for anything!”
Lee Edgerton loved playing soccer in high school, on club teams and in college. And thanks to a talk he had with his coach at the University of South Florida, his soccer career continued. “Long story short, I went to a Professional Indoor Soccer combine which had over 500 players that attended,” Edgerton said. “I ended up doing some extensive training to prepare for the combine. I did very well and ended up getting drafted sixth overall by the Sacramento Knights. ”I enjoyed traveling and my teammates. We all went through the lowest of lows and the highest of highs together and built long-lasting relationships. I also enjoyed getting paid to play a game and interacting with the fan base.” Edgerton scored 126 goals and made 84 assists in his 199-game career in the WISL (World Indoor Soccer League), MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) and CISL (Continental Indoor Soccer League).
LEE EDGERTON
n 2008-Now ... Oklahoma City FD (Maj) n 1999-2004 ... Cleveland Crunch/Force (MISL) n 1999 ... Utah Freezz (WISL) n 1997-98 ... Sacramento Knights (CISL)
Edgerton scored 126 goals and recorded 84 assists in his 199-game indoor soccer career. “My last year playing I was 30 years old,” he said. “I began to think I could not continue playing forever and I started contemplating about my future. “Ultimately, I decided to return home to Oklahoma and pursue coaching soccer. I spoke to some of the parents of kids I had coached, and a few of them stated they were firefighters and loved what they were doing. “I researched firefighting and fell in love with the profession. I earned my EMT basic and was fortunate to be selected with the Oklahoma City Fire Department in 2007.” When asked if he had anything else to share for this story, Edgerton had this to say: “Never give up on your dreams and passions. I have been told many times that I was not good enough to play college soccer, never mind professional soccer. “I have also been told I could not get a job with the Oklahoma City Fire Department because it was too competitive. “I would just say follow your passion and put the work in and you can accomplish anything your heart and mind is set on. Go for It!”
Grant Ellingson Finds Firefighting and Pro Rodeo Careers Equally Enjoyable
Making a living in rodeo is tough unless you consistently rank in the top 1% of your event. That’s one reason why professional calf roper Grant Ellingson joined the Tulsa FD. “For example, my wife Hilary is a professional barrel horse trainer,” Ellingson said. “She enjoys training the young futurity barrel horses. This allows her to make a living within the horse industry but not only in professional rodeo. “As a young adult, I realized I didn’t want to rely on rodeo for a living but still wanted to compete. So I pursed being a professional firefighter.” Another reason Ellingson joined the fire service was because his father and grandfather were firefighters. His father Dave spent 28 years with TFD before retiring in 2008. His grandfather Harold Ellingson was a volunteer firefighter in his home town in North Dakota. “My dad was hired in Tulsa in 1980, the year I was born,” Ellingson said. “So I grew up around it. I visited dad at the station as a kid. I grew up with his shift work and knew the schedule. Now dad enjoys retirement doing all the hunting he can.” Ellingson still enjoys calf roping and competes in the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) and American Cowboys Rodeo Association (ACRA). He has qualified for the finals in both associations several times. “Having animals involved makes it so much different than other sports that have a ‘constant’ course, field, track or ball,” Ellingson said. “With animals involved, you have to learn to read them and know their personalities and behaviors. This can be one of the most frustrating and rewarding aspects of rodeo. “The thing I enjoy the most about being a firefighter is the camaraderie of the other firefighters. It’s a huge second family. Any help you need you will get from fellow firefighters. And there is a great sense of pride in saving someone’s life or property.” GRANT ELLINGSON
n 2004-Now ... Tulsa FD n 2002-04 ... Kellyville FD n 2005-Now ... IPRA & ACRA n 2008-18 ... PRCA (calf roping)
Qualified for Great Lakes circuit finals in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
Dylan Delso credits the fire service for saving his life -- literally. Eleven days after being signed by the Tampa Bay Rays to a minor league baseball contract, Delso fell backwards down a flight of stairs. “I suffered a basilar skull fracture and three subdural hematomas,” said Delso, who was in a coma for eight days. “Station 13 of the Sarasota Fire Department responded and got me to the hospital quickly. I believe that the Fire Service saved my life. So I want to give what I have to offer back to the fire service.” Delso did return to the baseball field four months after his near-fatal accident. But his heart was already somewhere else. “I decided to pursue another career in July 2017,” he said. “I did so because I felt that my purpose was something else and that I could make more of an impact on others away from the baseball field. “My favorite thing about being a firefighter is spending time with my crew. I’m currently assigned to Broken Arrow’s newest station with six other guys. “I’ve known our Lieutenant (Lee Connor) my whole life due to us going to the same DYLAN DELSO
n 2019-Now ... Broken Arrow FD n 2018-2019 ... Ponca City FD n 2016-2017 ... GLC Rays (MiLB)
Signed by Tampa Bay Rays to minor league contract on June 14, 2016. Eleven days later, Delso suffered a nearly fatal head injury.
church. I played high school baseball with one of the firefighters (Wes Moody). I grew up across the street from another one of the firefighters (Scott Riggs). “Our senior-most firefighter was a former Army Ranger (Michael Reiss) and does a great job holding all the firefighters below him accountable by holding us to a high standard of excellence. We have a young captain (Justin Cheatham) who likes to train and does an outstanding job leading our crew.” Delso does find some similarities between baseball and the fire service. “I tell people all the time that the only differences between playing sports and being on the fire department is that you go to emergencies instead of games and that you stay at the station together instead of going home after the game.”
Tulsa Firefighters Inspire Kenny Gunn to Join TFD and Play Pro Football
Kenny Gunn’s path to professional football actually started with the Tulsa Fire Department. “I took four years off before returning to the game, and I really wasn’t planning on returning to the game,” Gunn said. “I had a career as a firefighter, was married and we just had our first kid in December 1999. I was actually encouraged to play by our fire chief at the time, Chief Tom Baker.” So Gunn, who led Cascia Hall High School to its first state football championship in 1989 and left Tulsa University with records in single season and career kick-off return yards, decided to try out for the new arena football league. He played six games for af2’s Tulsa Talons, scoring five touchdowns and making 15 tackles. A knee injury he suffered as a firefighter cut his pro football career short, however. “I had already found my true calling,” Gunn said. “I think I went back to the game just to see if I could still do it. “At 27, I was the third oldest player on the team. The cool thing is I recruited two of my teammates to join the fire department.” Senator Kevin Matthews is the one who recruited Gunn for the fire service. The Senator served 25 years for TFD, retiring in 2010 as the Administrative Fire Chief. “Being an accountant wasn’t fulfilling, so I actually met with Kevin Matthews and he talked to me about joining,” Gunn said. “I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it, so I started the process and 18 months later was hired. “Even after going through the academy, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. But after my first shift of helping others in need, I knew I had found what God’s purpose was for me. I later found out that I had two family members who retired from the Tulsa Fire Department (his uncles, Reggie and James Demery). It wasn’t a commonly talked about career choice in the neighborhood I grew up in. “The same thing that inspired me that first shift is the same thing that inspires me to go to work each and every shift today.” KENNY GUNN
n 1998-Now ... Tulsa FD (Capt) n 2000 ... Tulsa Talons (af2)
Scored 5 TD and made 15 tackles in just 6 games. Stopped playing due to a knee injury suffered as a firefighter before the season began.
EARL BLEVINS
n 2004-Now ... Pro Rodeo Judge n 1995-2020 ... Tulsa FD (FEO) n 1980s-1997 ... PRCA Bareback Bronc Riding Currently a rodeo judge for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Earl Blevins began riding bucking horses professionally in the 1980s. And he was still competing in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association when he joined the Tulsa FD. “I guess initially, the idea of camaraderie with the guys and the adrenaline the job afforded is probably what first attracted me to pursue fire suppression,” Blevins said. “But as one becomes more tenured in the fire department, I feel what attracted me to the job began to change. “I think the one thing that comes to mind about what I enjoyed about the job was the fact that you were truly helping people in their most difficult time of need. “There is something rewarding about knowing you did the very best you could within a particular difficult situation, as you work alongside other fellow firefighters who have the same goals of providing aid for someone in your community.” Blevins wasn’t the only guy from TFD making the rodeo rounds. He traveled with Steve Abernathy, a fellow bareback bronc rider, and was friends with Steve Washington, a pro bull rider. But in 1994 at age 34, Blevins realized that riding rough stock was taking a toll on his body. So he turned to judging rodeo. “In 1998, a friend asked me if I would be interested in judging a youth rodeo event,” Blevins said. “And I enjoyed being able to still feel a part of the sport that I soon began judging amateur rodeo association events up until the time I became a Professional Rodeo Judge in 2004, as well as a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Judge. “The similarities between rodeo and the Fire Service are truthfully too many to count. I guess the first thing that comes to mind is ... we’re family. “I think within the rodeo world and the fire department world, there is an internal connection within the ranks that surpasses that of any other livelihood I’m aware of. “I am so grateful that I can say that I served and still admire the men and women who work for the fire department of the city of Tulsa.”
Matthew Mallory Gave Pro Baseball a Shot, Then Turned to Firefighting
Growing up, Matthew Mallory was impressed by the Hotshot firefighters and thought he’d love doing that for a living. Then baseball came a-calling, and he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 43rd round of the 2003 MLB amateur draft. That was right out of high school, so Mallory decided to wait and go to college at USAO in Chickasha. Then four years later, he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 36th round of the 2007 MLB amateur draft. “To be completely honest, I played baseball because I loved the game,” he said. “Playing the game you love every day is an amazing feeling. It was like waking up in the morning and thinking to myself that this can’t be real. “Getting the opportunity to play minor league ball was never something I thought would ever happen to me.’’ Mallory, however, decided to walk away from pro baseball after two years in the minor leagues because he wanted to start a family. “When we moved to Oklahoma, I met a few OKC Firefighters, and they always talked about the love they had for serving their community,” Mallory said. “My wife Rachel and I decided that I should take the chance and pursue a career in the fire service. “I love what I do because it is a fast- pace, team-oriented dedication to helping the people in our community who are in need.”
MATTHEW MALLORY
n 2018-Now ... OKC FD (Cpl) n 2008 ... Greensboro Grasshoppers MiLB) n 2007 ... GCL Marlins (MiLB)
Selected by Florida Marlins in 36th round of 2007 MLB Draft (1,091st pick overall).
Right out of high school, Brett Sinkbeil was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 38th round of the 2003 MLB draft. But the Sand Springs baseball pitcher decided to go to college to get stronger and mature more. That paid off, as after three years at Missouri State, Sinkbeil was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 1st round of the 2006 MLB draft — 19th overall. He made his major league debut with the Marlins in Sept. 15, 2010. In 2011, he signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then his interests changed. “After my daughter was born, I lost my desire to continue pursuing that career,” Sinkbeil said. “My desire to see her on a daily basis was more appealing than being a professional pitcher. The thought of leaving in February and being separated from my family until September or October wasn’t
appealing to me. “I played with several players who went into firefighting after playing, and that opened my eyes to this being a possible career after baseball,” Sinkbeil said. “When I played with the Pirates, the legacy of Roberto Clemente was still very much a part of their culture. Part of the Pirates’ keeping that legacy alive within the organization was requiring players to provide some sort of community service. “Players were required BRETT SINKBEIL to spend 4 hours a month doing n 2012-Now ... Tulsa FD (Lt) n 2010 ... Florida Marlins (MLB) n 2006-11 ... Minor League Baseball (7 teams) something for their community, usually helping kids. “I really enjoyed the way those activiSelected by Florida Marlins in 1st round of 2006 MLB amateur draft (19th pick overall). ties made me feel and how much satisfaction I got helping people in the community. And that ultimately influenced my decision to become a firefighter.”
Hard Work Is How Garber’s Brady Bond Went from 8-man Football to NFL
Brady Bond played 8-man football at Garber High School. But that didn’t stop him from beating the odds by playing Division 1 football and making it to the NFL. Statistics show that only 6.5% of high school football players in the United States will play college ball. And only 1.2% of college players will go on to the NFL. Bond was a 4-year starter at Oklahoma State and made the practice squad for the Baltimore Ravens. “Everyone who plays sports or competes in other activities knows that it takes a lot of work to be good at something,” Bond said. “Coming from a small school that played 8-man football, I was behind with strength and conditioning going into college. “I was demoted to third team during two-a-days my redshirt freshmen year at Oklahoma State. Towards the end of camp,
BRADY BOND
n
I was listed as a starter, something that took a lot of work and taking advantage of opportunities. “The part I enjoyed about being on an NFL Team is that it was your job, and that was it. In college, a student athlete has to balance class, practice and study time. In the NFL, you had one thing to worry about — playing football. “I would also add that most of those guys are good guys doing good things. There were a few knuckleheads, but I think you’ll find that within any organization.” After a year on the Ravens practice squad, Bond decided to get into the family business of firefighting. His grandpa Martin Bond served 20+ years on the Amorita-Byron FD. His dad Mike and brothers Levi and Cody have also served as volunteer firefighters - Mike at Burlington FD, Cody at Breckn 2013-Now ... Garber FD (FC) inridge FD and Levi is still at n 2012-13 ... Kremlin FD Garber FD. n 2011 ... Baltimore Ravens (NFL) Bond joined the Kremlin n 2010 ... San Diego Chargers (NFL) VFD in 2012 and served as the Kremlin-Hillsdale AgriculSigned as a free agent with the San Diego tural Education instructor. He Chargers and waived in September 2010. joined his hometown Garber Tried out for the Baltimore Ravens and VFD in 2013 and currently signed to reserve/future contracts. serves as Fire Chief.
“Living in rural Oklahoma, our small towns do not have the financial resources to fund a full time department, let alone a paid firefighter, so many small towns rely on volunteers to help fill that void,” Bond said. “Being able to help people in a time of need can be very rewarding and sometimes humbling. I have also enjoyed being able to train alongside the Enid Fire Department and many other career and volunteer departments at Autry Technology Center in Enid. “We are able to train together and build trust with the career firefighters. We learn from them, and every once in a while they will learn something from us.”
GEORGE FINA
n 1962-1984 ... Oklahoma City FD (Capt) n 1965-1971 ... NHRA (drag racing)
In 1969, won the NHRA World Championship for drag racing and named Top 10 driver in Hot Rod magazine.
It’s no wonder that George Fina drove an engine, ladder truck and rescue squad for the Oklahoma City FD in the 1960s. He was racing cars off and on from 1956 to 1965, and he was a serious competitor from 1965 to 1971. “I drove my first race car at age 17,” Fina said. “It was a 1934 Ford built by my friends and I. The next car we built was a dragster, and when it was finished, no one wanted to drive it for fear of its being dangerously fast. “So we decided to flip a coin and I won the toss. On my first run, it was 120 miles in a quarter and I had racing fever. This has lasted even today. I have raced on drag strips all over the country at speeds over 200 miles per hour. The competition of racing has always elevated everything I have done.” Fina went to work at OCFD Station #5 in 1962. Three years later, he passed the test for driver and drove three district chiefs in addition to the vehicles mentioned above. The year 1969 was Fina’s best on the NHRA circuit. He won the NHRA World Championship for drag racing, was named a Top 10 driver by Hot Rod magazine and was recognized as Oklahoman Sportsman for October 1969 by the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. “I won many races, and when I lost, each one made me better,” Fina said. “I loved being a race car driver and loved being on the edge. “I was asked to compare a firefighter and race car driver. My answer is both have to wear fire suits, boots and a helmet. And when you push on the throttle, you are on a ride not knowing how it will end.”
World’s Best Jobs According to David Rollandini: Baseball Player & Firefighter
David Rollandini was playing Double A baseball for the Corpus Christi Hooks when he befriended members of the local fire department. “Our team and the Corpus Christi Fire Department worked together on a community project and I met Lee Rogers, a longtime captain,” Rollandini said. “He was a season-ticket holder and a huge fan, and we became friends and I often visited the station and went on ride alongs. “After spending time with those guys, I knew what I wanted to do when I was done playing.” Of course, he always dreamed of being both a baseball player and firefighter. “I am grateful and blessed to have had both of those dreams come true,” he said. “Neither athletes nor firefighters are cut out to be in corporate life. The team, the brotherhood and the satisfaction are all things that money cannot buy and cannot be found in any other profession. “The pride, honor and tradition is sometimes thought cliche, but I’ve been around the world and have seen a lot of stuff and met a lot of people, and there is no job on earth better than a firefighter and a baseball player.” Rollandini was a pitcher for Oklahoma State from 1998-2001. He then signed as an amateur free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies and played for the organization’s minor league teams in Ohio and New Hampshire. In 2004, Rollandini, joined the Pink Grosseto team in the Italian Baseball League where he played for two seasons. And being an American Italian, he was invited to play for Team Italy at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. “Professional baseball was a dream come true,” he said. “I enjoyed the competition, the grind and the routine. DAVID ROLLANDINI
n 2012-Now ... Tulsa FD (Capt) n 2006 ... Corpus Christi Hooks (MiLB) n 2003 ... Penn. Road Warriors (MiLB) n 2003 ... Nashua Pride (MiLB) n 2002 ... Canton Crocodiles (MiLB) n 2001 ... GLC Phillies (MiLB)
Signed as amateur free agent with Philadelphia Phillies in 2001.
“I had the opportunity to travel the world and make lifelong friends all over the place. I enjoyed the road trips and the clubhouse and interacting with the fans and community. “But every door closes, and with age, arm problems and a growing family, it was time to hang up the spikes in 2007. ”Now I enjoy the family feel of the Fire Department. We hold each others’ kids, we help each other build houses and fix cars. We have holidays at the station and go on trips together. “I enjoy helping those in need and I enjoy the sense of pride I feel when I put my uniform on everyday. I love having a job that my kids can look up to.”
Algie “Sniff” Lawrence OKC FD Bob “Cat” Summers OKC FD
Carl “Big Daddy” Holmes OKC FD Cecil “Red” Dixon OKC FD
Meet the “Original 12” and “The Six.”
They were the first black firefighters for the OKC FD and Tulsa FD.
Ten of OKC’s “Original 12” -- hired in 1951 -- are pictured here. Photos of J.B. Coffey and J.H. Young were unavailable.
Featured on the next two pages are more photos and stories on these firefighters.
Cleatus Q. Stephens Tulsa FD Clifford Horn Tulsa FD
Charles “Q” Wright OKC FD Edward “Mama” Russell OKC FD Henry L. Collier Tulsa FD Merle L. Stripling Tulsa FD
Submitted by Don Stephens
The city of Tulsa in 1956 decided to increase minorities in the city civil service departments, employing six Negro firefighters, as they were called. They were stationed at Firehouse 19 which opened in 1956 on the corner of Mohawk Boulevard and Peoria on the outskirts of the city. Operating in three shifts, “A” platoon was manned by Robert Shanks and Cleatus Stephens. Clifford Horn and Merle Stripling were on “B” platoon, while Henry Collier and Milton Goodwin formed “C” platoon. The six men were pioneers in the fire service as Tulsa’s first black firemen. Young, brave, courageous and eager to learn. The hiring appeared to strive for racial equality, but in reality, it took many years before equality actually existed on the job. The men were treated the same in the heat of fighting fires and meal time, but before and after fires, conditions were different and not always so good. In the 1950s, the racial segregation and prejudice made being a black firefighter hard. Station 19 was the city’s first integrated fire company. The station was built with three separate bedrooms and bathrooms -- one for the Captain, one for the white firemen and one for the black firemen. The men had to clean them but weren’t allowed to use the one for the white firemen. In addition, black firemen were not allowed to attend the Fireman’s Ball and promotional exams were not fair. Air masks were not available until the late 1960s, and then there was only one to an engine truck.
Merle Stripling was the first of the six to be promoted -- in 1962 to Driver and in 1968 to Captain. Ten years later, he rose through the ranks and became the first black District Fire Chief in the city, retiring in 1986 after serving 30 years. He died in 2013 at age 83.
Henry Collier had a great personality on the force, and he was moved around between stations as a part of an integration effort. He received third-degree burns from a gas explosion and spent over a month in the burn center. He left the job in 1975 for the pulpit, becoming pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church where he attended since his childhood. He died in 2004 at age 71.
Clifford Horn was a devoted firefighter who was easy to work with and who loved the job that paid $265 a month. He died in 1983 at age 56.
Don Stephens, who submittted this article, retired from Tulsa FD in 2008 after 30 years of service. His twin brother Ron Stephens retired from Tulsa FD in 2010 after two stints and 31 years of service. Their dad Cleatus Q. Stephens was one of Tulsa FD’s first black firefighters and served 25 years.
Don Stephens
Clifford Horn, also one of Tulsa FD’s black firefighters, inspired his nephews to become firefighters. Keith Horn retired from Tulsa FD in 2021 after 26 years. Chris Horn retired from Tulsa FD in 2015 after 27 years. “We wanted to be police officers first because our father was a Tulsa police officer,” Keith said. “It just so happened we were blessed to Ron Stephens join the Fire Service.” Milton Goodwin, who remained on the job until 1960, was known as a bright, energetic fireman. He became a Minister, Community Activist and founder of charter school W.E.B. Dubois Academy which closed in 2000. He died in 2003 at age 69. Robert Shanks was a committed fireman and hard worker. He was also known as one of the toughest firefighters on the job, and I often heard stories of his skills and bravery. He died in 1997 at age 66. Cleatus Q. Stephens received a Meritorious Award for saving a young girl’s life by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He also received the R.C. Alder award for Lifetime Achievement (named after Tulsa’s first fire chief in 1900) and a Lifetime award from the Coalition of Firefighters. He retired in 1981 and purchased 40 acres of land in Bristow. He died in 2000 at age 77. The Tulsa Fire Department is 121 years old and has only had six black chiefs -- Merle Striping, Mike Conley, Harold McCoy, Kevin Matthews, Gerald Edwards and Leon Wilson. Although “The Six” faced lots of prejudice, the Tulsa FD made a good decision. They could not have picked a better group of brave men to pave the way for the other minority firemen to follow them. For myself, I looked at these six men as my heroes, and I tried to follow in their footsteps. I joined the Tulsa FD and was able to complete my dream, which was to be part of the fire service in Tulsa.
Keith Horn Chris Horn
Merle Striping,Cleatus Stephens & Henry Collier Cleatus Stephens receives a Meritorious Award for saving a Booker T. Washington HS student. Also pictured is Clifford Horn
Shown aboard one of Tulsa FD’s fire trucks are the six black firefighters hired in 1956
In 1950, there were no black firefighters in Oklahoma. Or Texas. Or anywhere in the region. That changed on Nov. 22, 1951, when 12 men answered the call to become OKC’s first black firefighters. The pioneering OKC firefighters were J.B. Coffey, Cecil Dixon, Herb Ford, Melvin Franklin, Carl Holmes, Willard Jenkins, Algie Lawrence, Marvin Nelson, Edward Russell, Bob Summers, Charles
Station 2 in 1970 named Fire Station of the Month. Pictured (L to R) are Lt. Ernest Evans, Driver James Davidson and Firefighters James Damron and David Bowman
Wright and J.H. Young. They were hired three years before the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools were inherently unequal, four years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus and seven years before the OKC NAACP Youth Council staged its first sit-in. The city hired the men in exchange for civil rights leaders supporting a bond election. The NAACP, along with the urban league, selected the 12 men to join the academy, and almost all of them had a college education. “They were counting on the fact we’d all flunk out of recruit training, the examination process, the physical process, all of it – and it didn’t happen,” said Carl Holmes, in an interview on display at the Oklahoma History Center. The “Original 12” were assigned to two semi-segregated fire stations. At first, the black firefighters were segregated from their white counterparts. By 1959, black firefighters were serving in six integrated fire stations. The men worked so hard, one of the two semi-segregated stations was awarded a trophy by the Insurance Commission for being the most efficient fire crew in the city. And Station 6 won that trophy three years in a row. Of the “Original 12,” two went on to achieve upper-level management positions during their careers. Melvin Franklin was promoted to District Chief in 1975 and to Deputy Chief in 1979. Carl Holmes was promoted to Deputy Chief in 1973 and Assistant Chief in 1974. Retired OCFD Major Harold Leverett, Franklin’s nephew, grew up hearing stories from his uncle and several others. “All of us owe them everything that we have,” he said in an interview with The Oklahoman. “The lifestyle that we have, the job that we have, the ranks that we have -- all that is owed to those first 12 people who started it for us.”
Deputy Chief Melvin Franklin & Fire Chief Gary Marrs
Assistant Chief Carl Holmes
Roberts Testing
