Firemen Promoted, Others Hang up Their Hoses

There was a lot of movement around the San Angelo Fire Department’s Station #5 on Thursday, when six fire fighters received promotions and two lay down their hoses for retirement.

Many of the firefighters had been doing the job for decades, and say Thursday’s promotion is the result of hard work.

“You have to sacrifice a lot of time away from family,” said Patrick Brody in the fire station garage where families and friends had gathered. “It’s like going full time to ASU,” he continued, explaining that promotions are based on test results and that there are usually five to six books of material to learn over a three-month span.

Brody, who has been promoted from Lieutenant up to Captain and has served 13 years at the SAFD, says he’s excited about the new role and responsibilities and states he’d like to stay Captain for a while.

“I don’t know if I want to go any further,” Brody said, when asked how far he anticipated to climb. “After Captain, it’s all administration.”

If there’s one word that echoed throughout the garage Thursday afternoon it was camaraderie, and it carried from Brody on over to the man who’s office he’d be taking, Vernon Hancock.

Hancock has been serving the San Angelo Fire Department for 23 years and was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief on Thursday, an achievement he celebrated with his wife and mother.

“My brother was a fireman in Midland and talked me into wanting to do,” Hancock said of his beginnings. After 23 years, Hancock, like the others, has formed close bonds to the team.

“I will miss being with the men and going to the fires,” Hancock began as he described his new post, “but I’ve reached the point in my career where going home every night is important.”

Hancock’s wife Kim agrees. The couple have been married 13 years and through that time he’s been working shift work. Mrs. Hancock says she’s very proud of her husband and happy to have him home.

Another fireman, Sean McCallum hung up his hat permanently following a 22.5 year career at the SAFD and retired at Thursday’s event.

“It’s a great career to be in and I’ve enjoyed it the whole time,” McCallum said. “I always wanted to be one [a fireman] and I’ve never regretted it. I made my dream come true.”

McCallum may be retired, but his schedule won’t be completely clear anytime soon. He says he will continue to fly Airmed1, which he’s done the past 19 years, and will spend more time watching his two youngers sons play hockey.

Also among those promoted on Thursday were Andrew McElroy, Lieutenant; Matthew Ellison, Captain; Robert Wells, Lieutenant; and Geoffrey Childress, Lieutenant.

Charles Crabtree also retired after 33 years of service.

For more on the San Angelo Fire Department, visit: http://safiredept.com/