I was born on a cool rainy day, in
fact on the day of my birth it was a terrible weather day in my home state of
Utah; the following is an excerpt from the Deseret News.
-May 20, 1975: "Central Utah
is hammered by extreme snowfall. Manila has 22 inches; Fillmore 21 and Delta 20
inches". –Deseret Morning News-
I took over my own business as a
paper boy for the Desert News when I was between 8-12 years old. It was passed
down to me from my older brother who received it from our next older brother,
and so on through all seven brothers, and our only sister. I began working for
my father in his Air Compressor Business at about age ten. I worked as a parts
cleaner and small spot helper. I worked my way up the food-chain to where I was
my father’s main mechanic by the time I was sixteen years old.
I was a hard worker from the get
go, I was always driven by results, I wanted to see the fruits of my labors, I
loved yard work and the “before and after” of hard work. I was always working on a project. I
mentioned that I had the paper route and I also worked for my dad; that said I
also helped on my Grandfathers farm during some summers. Volunteering for my
church as well as my scout troop was the norm and expected.
I was a terrible student in
school as a kid, but I was one funny son of a gun! I was the class clown and no
one was funnier than yours truly. I could make anyone laugh. I was a decent
athlete through Jr High and high school, Playing football, baseball, and I
managed the wrestling team for Granger High school where I lettered.
When I was eight years old I
joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints and joined an elite
group of rascals known as the Boy Scouts of America. I received my hunter
safety a few months later. I graduated High school, and seminary in 1993 and
immediately entered school to become an EMT, this in an effort to learn
something and kill time until I was old enough to be a police officer. I
graduated EMT school in December of 1993 where I was then hired as an EMT for
the UTAH Dive and Water Rescue team. After a few months and heard work I was
promoted up the latter to lieutenant of ground operations and safety. Work for our group was few and far between so
in an effort to keep our skills sharp we became the official rescue team for
Bonneville Raceway.
In 1994, I tested for Draper City
Ambulance department in Draper, Utah and was hired amongst the intense
competition. I was born to save lives, I was a hero of the first degree. Within
a year of getting that job, it was painfully clear that I needed more action.
In 1995, I applied and then
tested for the Largest Emergency Service in the State of Utah, Gold Cross
Ambulance. After extensive screening, testing, and patience I was hired. There
I spent 16 years taking an average of 7 calls a shift which averaged over 4
days a week for 16 years that’s 23,296 calls as an Emergency Medical Technician
(give or take). So it goes without saying that I saved a butt load of lives,
made a big difference and changed the world for at least three of those people.
While at Gold Cross Ambulance I
promoted up the latter as well, where I became senior partner, Field Training
Officer, Emergency Driving instructor, and finally Dispatch and Operations
supervisor where I had 3-5 Emergency Dispatchers, 25-40 EMT’s and 10-20
Paramedics under my command. My training and skills were instrumental in two
major incidents, which ironically occurred on the same stretch of freeway, on
I-80 near the Great Salt Lake. I was specifically responsible for the
coordination and successful transportation of dozens of patients by ground
ambulance as well as air ambulance to several local hospitals.
Prior
to my marrage1998, I served a Mission for my Church to the state of New
York. I married the most beautiful woman
a man could ever ask for. I definitely married up, and to that I attribute my
sense of humor and good looks. We went on to be awesome parents. Although being
a parent is heard work. We are living
happily ever after….
I
will again seek my dream of becoming a hero, this time to my wife and children
as a college graduate and to show how “KICK BUTT” it is to get knocked down,
and then get up, dust yourself off, man up, and get to work. I will, through
great sacrifice, hard work, and determination, again realize my dream of being
in Law enforcement or incarcerated.
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