Robert Graham fought fires, combed forests for lost people, and was the saving grace for countless individuals involved in car accidents for 44 years. Those were just part of his responsibilities as he rose from volunteer all the way to director of the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency.
After nearly a lifetime of selflessly helping others, Graham has decided to retire. He reminisced on some of his memories while working with Fannin County’s agencies dedicated to serving the public.
One of his favorite parts, Graham explained, was the friendship created among each of the men and women working there. He stated, “It was almost like a brotherhood.”
Graham spoke about how much fun he had with the public. Whether it was teaching public safety, meeting people, or showing the firetrucks to kids, he loved all those experiences.
Graham said the best part of the job is “anytime you get to save someone and make a difference in their life.” Graham stated that there is nothing like getting out there and fighting a fire. It’s not a job just anyone can do, there must be passion. Graham showed every bit of passion for the job.
He told of a story where he didn’t just save a life, but helped to bring in a new life altogether. Years ago, an ambulance was called for a woman giving birth and Graham arrived on the scene. It was too late in the delivery process to get to a hospital so Graham helped to deliver that baby boy right there in the home.
Afterward, the baby was adopted and the adoptive mother gave Graham updates on the boy’s life as he grew. He is now an adult and Graham has even met with him a few times.
Of course with the good, there is always some bad. Graham has seen people on their worst days. Graham stated, “There is a lot of sorrow, but in the end, it is a very rewarding career.”
Closing that chapter of his life, Graham is excited to retire. He has plans to spend more time with his seven grandchildren.
His wife is also retiring this year so they will be able to spend more time with family doing things they love. Graham explained that with his job, he may have been getting ready for a family dinner, but if he got a call that someone needed help, he was out the door.
Graham is also excited to do more things locally and visit places around the area that he never got around to visiting.