Getting to Know Fred Cephas: Gwinnett’s New Fire Chief

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners recently approved a recommendation by County Administrator Glenn Stephens to appoint Fred Cephas as Gwinnett County Fire Chief. Russell Knick, who has served as chief since 2018, will move into a leadership position within the County Administrator’s Office.

“As a county employee, I fondly remember Chief Cephas’ work ethic and his ability to connect with colleagues and residents in our community,” said Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “He is truly a servant leader, and that is a trait we value when training successors for key roles in Gwinnett County.”

“With his military background and over twenty years of experience in Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services, Fred brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role as chief,” said Stephens. “As deputy chief, he strengthened operations within the department and increased trust within the community, and I look forward to seeing where he leads the department in the future. At the same time, we are fortunate to retain Russell’s experience and leadership as he transitions into a new role.”

As a teenager, Cephas admired the hard work and dedication of firefighters in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, and believes his life has come full circle. He found his passion to serve in 1996 when he joined the United States Air Force. After basic training, he was assigned to the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy where he trained as a Department of Defense Aircraft Rescue Firefighter. This assignment led him to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base as a first responder. Following his military service, the veteran firefighter served the Winston-Salem Fire Department before launching his Gwinnett County career in 2001. He then rose through the ranks of the department, serving in various capacities including strategic

Senior Golfers Association: Now Accepting New Members!

By Traci Sanders

In 1956 a group of eight local golfers came together and formed the Senior Golfers Association of Atlanta (SGAA), a 501(c)(7) nonprofit organization offering golfing opportunities to senior citizens in Gwinnett and surrounding counties.

The membership grew steadily and reached over 300 members, but unfortunately dwindled during Covid as over a dozen are ninety years and older. The SGAA, which holds 200 active members and provides local and out-of-state golfing events and opportunities, is currently celebrating sixty-seven years of membership. The organization still operates under the motto that it’s “dedicated to good golf and fine fellowship.” planning, accreditation management, operations, and as a licensed polygraphist. Since 2020 he has served as second in command as deputy fire chief.

The cost to join SGAA is only $25 initially, and then $25 per year thereafter. Members enjoy reduced fees at 120 tournaments at twenty local golf courses, which also helps local courses fill tee times on weekdays. All applicants must be at least fifty-five and must be sponsored by at least two current active members to be considered. If someone would like to play as a guest to start, they simply contact the SGAA board, and that potential member will be assigned two sponsors.

A wealth of insight and valuable information can be found on the website, including golf scores that are posted to encourage a bit of friendly competition, pictures from previous events, the SGAA handbook, by-laws, downloadable newsletters, and a calendar outlining current and upcoming events. Members can even receive quick tips to improve their game and weather updates to plan their next golfing adventure. A Champions list is also documented annually on the site.

It takes a village to keep an organization of this size running smoothly. Members are elected to handle tasks such as coordinating end-of-the-year banquets, managing software and the website, registering members for the organization and at events, and overseeing outreach efforts, just to name a few.

Serving in the field alongside first responders while they answered emergency calls during an arctic blast that swept the nation over the past holiday season counts as one of Cephas’ most memorable moments in Gwinnett. He cited the commitment, resilience, professionalism, and courage he witnesses as the reason he is proud to lead the department.

“I’m committed to serving others,” said Cephas, “and at its core, that’s what public service and public safety are all about. I am truly honored and humbled to continue to serve the county that I love, while understanding there is still more work to be done.”

The new fire chief’s priorities are continuing to work on retention and team building within Fire and Emergency Services and supporting other departments and agencies in the county government. His promotion is effective April 1st.

Cephas holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA from Shorter University. He is also a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett 2019.

In addition to playing any number of the 120 local tournaments this year, SGAA members can enjoy meeting up with fellow golfers at one of four scheduled out-of-town events from the North Carolina mountains to the sand hills of Southeast Georgia. The next “away” event is scheduled for June 19 - 21 at the Smoky Mountain Golf Course in Whittier, North Carolina. The course plays just over 6,100 yards (par 71), with almost 400 feet of elevation change. There’s also an opportunity for “organized play,” where handicaps are established and maintained, with four different “flights,” which allows members to compete for prizes against other members of similar capability.

I recently spoke with a current member, Mike Nobles, who shared with me that the SGAA is a way for senior citizens to get out of the house and meet new people who enjoy golf but also stay active and have a purpose in their day while doing something they enjoy. “I was in that boat,” Mike said, “and this ended up being a great thing for me, so I know it can help a lot of other senior citizens in the community as well.”

The SGAA isn’t just about providing an outlet for golf enthusiasts in the area. This group is also interested in giving back to the community. In fact, many of the current members are veterans and are looking into various types of charities to sponsor fellow veterans in Georgia. More information at https://sgaofatlanta.org/.