FromtheJournalist’sDesk
I was in my late 20’s before I ever took a photo with Santa. Growing up, I just disliked Santas. I don’t know what specifically intimidated me, but I didn’t care for the jolly old guy in a red suit.
This changed when I moved to Farmersville in 2007 and started working for the newspaper there. As a newbie journalist fresh out of school and in a community I had no idea about, I was terrified when one of my first assignments was to cover a fire department.
Their fire chief, Kim Morris, made me feel incredibly welcome at the event (a family picnic with games) and honestly so did everyone else who was there.
As I started to gain more and more confidence as a journalist and became more interested in the fire service, Chief Morris helped me learn with ride alongs, photographing training sessions and allowed me the rare access to be embedded with them during grass fire calls in a truck to take photos.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped being just a journalist and started being a member of the department and part of the family. Chief Morris was a large part of that and since he took on the coveted role of Santa each year, I of course, had to get a photo with him and Mrs. Claus (his wife Sharon) at each and every opportunity.
Not only are Chief and Mrs. Chief family to me, but they are family to Farmersville.
Chief Morris was one of those rare, selfless servants that loved to give back to his community. I’ve seen him on countless occasions give of himself just to better his community. This is a trait in first responders and fire chiefs that is common across the majority of small towns, but it always strikes me with the same chord ... one of honor, dedication and admiration.
When I applied for my master’s of homeland security, Chief was one of the people who wrote me a letter of recommendation and encouraged me to go after something I loved.
This week heaven gained a great angel as he passed away unexpectedly after health complications. I have no doubt that he’s in heaven, enjoying spending time with other fire department members that had gone before him. And though I know there are no fires in heaven, I can only hope that maybe Jesus sees fit to allow one firetruck fit for a really great fire chief just in time for him lead a parade on it as Santa. —Wyndi Veigel is the Content Editor for the Dublin Citizen and can be reached via email at composing@ dublincitizen.com.