Saturday, May 4, 2024
Although Jeremy Stills was recently named the Gatesville Volunteer Fire Department's Firefighter of the Year, he is quick to credit others in the department for all they have done to help him learn and grow.
"I have absolutely (been inspired) by others in the fire department," he said. "It's not just a testament to what I've done, it's a testament to those who serve this community. Without all of us pulling together and working closely with each other, there's no way any one of us could be successful.
"When it comes to experience, I'm at the low end of the totem pole. The leadership in this department is fantastic. We have outstanding firefighters here who have taught me a lot and shared their knowledge with me. That's really allowed me to learn things and get involved from day one. The people here support each other and have helped me grow in immeasurable ways."
Stills joined the Army in 1992 after graduating from high school, spending most of his military career in transportation. He also was a recruiter for three years.
After growing up in the Philadelphia area, Stills came to Texas when he was stationed at Fort Hood. He and his wife Alyssa met each other when they were stationed with the Army in Iraq.
"I had a buddy I was in combat with in Iraq in 2011 and 2012, and he said I should come up here and get to know my way around," Stills said.
Stills' wife was working at one of the local prisons before later taking a job with Southwest Transplant Alliance, so moving to the Gatesville area made sense.
Stills is one in a long line of firefighters who received the Firefighter of the Year designation.
"Chief (Billy Vaden) was Firefighter of the Year when I was two years old," Stills said. Robert Featherston, who also serves as an inspector for the city of Gatesville, has gotten the award three times and is one of the people Stills credits with making the fire department successful.
Stills also credits his wife with having a big impact on his life.
"We met in Iraq and got to know each other and got married after knowing each other for about 90 days," he said. "Eleven or 12 years later we are still happily married. That's a God-given blessing."
The opportunity to serve his community is what led Stills to become a volunteer firefighter.
"One of the reasons I joined the fire department - and there are several reasons, is that I love to give back to the community. I am a 'God, family and country' type person," he said. "I also need structure in my life. After 20 years in the military, I am very institutionalized. This fire department is very structured. We are like one big family here."
Some of those who have encouraged Stills are Vaden, Featherston, Bobby Buster and training chief Lee Walker.
Frequent training helps the department be ready for the challenges it faces.
"Training is really a big part of serving here — it's like training in the military," he said. "We train like we fight. From the top to the bottom. I have learned something from everyone."
Stills’ first experience in firefighting was serving with the Levita Volunteer Fire Department.
"I was with the Levita department for two and a half years, but then we moved past South Mountain," Stills said, adding that because of the distance involved, it made sense to move to the Gatesville department.
Asked what the biggest challenges are, Stills said responding to crisis situations can be demanding.
"It can be difficult when you see people in need of help, whether they've been injured in a car accident or lost their home in a fire," he said. "Sometimes, animals perish in a fire and it can wear on your mind. You just have to keep telling yourself you are doing good. If you can leave the scene knowing you did your best, that helps. The good outweighs the bad.
"I haven't seen one thirty-second of what many of the people in the department have seen. We also use some of those past events in training. To hear the stories of what people have been through and know that these firefighters are still here and hard charging is also a motivation."
What has Stills enjoyed most?
"The camaraderie," he said. "One of the things that keeps a smile on my face and keeps me going is the friendship we have. Like any entity or organization, things are not always 100%. We have bumps and ups and downs just like a family. We also know at the end of the day we're one big cohesive unit. You can count on anybody in this department. You can call at 3 in the morning for anything.
"I can't even put it into words how caring and giving the people in this department are."
Community support has also impressed Stills.
"This community is amazing at supporting the first responders," he said. "If we have a big wildfire the community comes together and the outpouring of support for us is beyond reproach. They bring food, water, Gatorade. You come over the hill (at the scene of a fire) and there will be 10 pizzas or a bunch of chicken waiting for us. I can't say enough about the way the community supports us."
Stills said bringing together people from a variety of backgrounds and with different skillsets has helped strengthen the department.
"The diversity we have is definitely a key ingredient," he said. "We come from different walks of life and have a lot of different views and ways to do things, but we all work together, and that's one of the things that helps us to operate so consistently. Some people are more technically inclined, others are better at mechanical things. We all come together to get the job done."
In addition to his role as a firefighter, Stills is also an active member of the Gatesville Lions Club, which emphasizes community service. In connection with the club, he is chairman of the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign that raises money for local charity efforts.
"This is a great place to serve," he said.
