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Francis Mowbray
  • 68, Male
  • Savage, Md
  • United States
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Profile Information

Lives in:
Back and forth between Savage and Barton Maryland
Department:
Savage VFC, Barton Hose Co. and Tri-Towns EMS
Title/rank:
Chief
Years of public service:
35
Agency structure:
Combination fire department
Top issues in your department:
Pretty much I think we face very similar issues as any other combination department in today's changing world.
Professional Qualifications:
Firefighter III (Pro-Board)
Fire Officer IV (Pro-Board)
Instructor III (Pro-Board)
EMT-Paramedic (National Registry)
HazMat Technician
Firefighter Safety Officer
Safety Manager
Topics you provide training for:
OSHA Regulatory
Leadership
Areas of expertise:
Working my entire adult life to become an expert... but haven't made it yet. But I am a good sponge.
Bio:
Born and raised in Barton, a small town in rural Western Maryland.. This will always be home. Like most fireman, my interest was spurred by my father (Francis Sr.) who was and is today a member of the community Volunteer Fire Company. As a small child I remember visiting the local barber shop where a picture of the first motorized fire truck of the community hung prestigious on the wall. When the barber passed away, his wife gave me that photo because she knew how much I loved it. Living next door to the Fire Chief (Hamill Snyder) who became like a second father to me also lead to my interest in the fire company. As a small child, he would gather all of the neighborhood kids up and take us to the fire station every Monday evening to test the fire whistle at 6:00pm. It was truly a highlight of our week. When I was 12, the Chief gave me a key to the fire station and said "son, this is a big responsibility but I know you can handle it. My job was to make sure no fire truck was dirty and that everyone's running gear was kept clean and in order". And trust me I just about washed the paint off those trucks. At that time you couldn't join the fire company until you were 18, but as soon as June rolled around, my application was in and I was accepted into the department and I was in Firefighter training within 3 months. At about the same time businesses and community leaders were forming a Volunteer Rescue Squad to provide ambulance service to several communities. Of course I was on board with that and became an EMT-A. For the years that followed I availed myself of every training opportunity I could. It was kinda funny... I hated school. Was an average student and didn't much care about excelling in the Readin, Rigtin and Rithmetic... but when it came to FIRE and EMS, it quickly became my life. I couldn't get enough of it and I really felt good about helping people that maybe were in the midst of the worst day or their life or just needed help with something that wasn't an emergency. As a high school student I took a job with the local grocery store (making $1.75/hr) because I wanted a car... bet you could never guess... but it was a Pontiac Grand Am fire engine red to boot. Worked for a short time at a local plant that made yarn for clothing... and then as a dispatcher when our area started up the local dispatch center. After about 3 years I settled into a job with Westvaco, a paper mill in our community where I worked for 25 years. It was through my job as a Security Supervisor where my life took on a new direction. My boss at the time was Bernie Chabot, a retired Maryland State Police Barrack Commander. One day he called me into his office and said, "I see a lot of promise in you son, but you are lazy, disorganized and not very motivated" definately a Life Altering Experience for me... He said he would help me change if I wanted... and I did change which has lead to my later successes. It was also early in my career that I met another of who would become one of those guys who changes your life... his name was Bob Shimer, Deputy Fire Marshal with the State of Maryland, a Maryland Fire Rescue Instructor and a local Fire Chief. He showed me so much.... and made arrangements for me to start volunteering in Howard County, Md. in 1976. This was a great opportunity and provided me with so much more experience than I would every have received in my small town and where I met another mentor, Marty LePore the Station Captain and later to become County Fire Chief. Again, his guidance and mentor ship was a positive life's experience. Who would have known that in spring of 2001 while attending a Safety Conference for my job, I would learn of an opening that would forever change my life yet again. I applied for and soon was hired as a Safety Manger for the Architect of the Capitol, Washington, DC. The AOC as it's known is basically the owner of the buildings that make up Capitol Hill. I am specifically assigned to manage the safety program for the Library of Congress Jurisdiction. This new job also meant I needed to re-locate from my home. So it was natural for me to return to Howard County where I spent nearly 15 years of my life volunteering and working part time. I became a volunteer (and probably the oldest live-in member) of the Savage Volunteer Fire Company where I have served as Chief and currently serve as Deputy Chief.

If there is on thing about life that I have learned... it is about "perception".... If you think your life is s*** it will be s***. Positive attitudes due truly change everything.

Today I am the proud father of 5 children... Jason who is the West Regional Commander of the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office; Sean a Career Firefighter (and HazMat Technician... why he likes HazMat I will never know) in Frederick County Maryland; Eric who is a firefighter with the Cumberland City Fire Dept., Cumberland Maryland; Rachel who is a terrific mother of 3 beautiful children and who helps to run a business with her husband... and Evan who is a heavy equipment operator. Thanks to my family, I am now the proud grand dad to 7 beautiful grandchildren who are my pride and joy.
Web site:
http://www.savagevfc.org

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 10:48am on October 30, 2008, Francis Mowbray said…
Sure Chief, send it to me at ffmedicmo@aol.com Thanks
At 11:36am on October 29, 2008, Francis Mowbray said…
Good afternoon to all my fire service brethren... I just joined this site... I hope to make some great friends and contacts that I can share with and learn from.

Hope everyone has a great day... Be Safe... Mo
 
 
 

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