Gabe Sutton, 2013 Ada HS grad
Interviewed by Bailey Bowers
Check out the photo with Gabe as a youngster with his dad - both in fire figher suits, at the bottom of this story.
What have you been up to since your graduation from Ada High School?
I chose to attend Ohio Northern for Exercise Physiology and started classes last fall. While at Northern I was involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Ada Friends program. Spring semester was a busy time for me because not only was I in class at Northern but I was also taking my Level 1 firefighter class (120 hours) at Apollo. In between my class schedules, I coached junior high baseball. It was a very busy spring to say the least, but it was good for me!
What inspired you to become a firefighter?
I've wanted to be a fireman since I was a little boy. My mom and dad will tell you that I could name just about every tool on every truck when I was only about 4 or 5 years old. The first thing every little boy falls in love with is a truck of some kind. Mine just happened to be a firetruck, probably because I was around them all the time. With my dad being a Columbus Fireman, I wanted to be just like him. I would go visit him at the firehouse and every time I watched those trucks roll out, lights and sirens, it’s like the world stopped around me. To me that was just the coolest thing.
As I grew up, I had a better understanding of the job-- knowing that you could be woken up at 3 in the morning to go somewhere you have never been and help someone you have never met. That had a huge influence on me. The older I get, the more I appreciate what goes into the job and what being a firefighter means. My mom always told me to find something that I love and my dad introduced me to that love, so both of my parents were an inspiration. It’s what my old man does, it’s what I wanted to do, and if I ever have a son I hope it’s what he wants to do.
Not only that, but I love helping people and knowing that I am able to make a difference, knowing that you’re the light on what might be someone’s darkest day. It’s just very humbling and self-fulfilling.
What has been the biggest challenge so far in pursuing your dream? How did you overcome it?
The thought that I might never get to see my family or friends again. It’s a dangerous profession and conditions can change in the blink of an eye. I live by 2 quotes and a Bible verse because they have helped me overcome that thought.
The first quote is: “When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work.” -Edward F. Croker
The second quote is: “Let no man’s ghost return to say his training let him down.” -Firefighter’s Saying
The Bible verse is from John 15:13 and it reads: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
You also have a passion for baseball. Who’s your favorite team? Favorite player? (and why?)
Oh yes, a huge passion! I love my Reds. I have an app on my phone that gives me score updates every 3 innings for when I’m not glued in front of the TV watching the game. I would have to say my favorite player is BP (Brandon Phillips) because if you watch him play, he always has a smile on his face and is having fun playing the best game in the world and that’s what it’s all about.
What is your earliest memory of baseball?
My earliest memory of baseball is warming up with my grandpa in the front yard before pee-wee games. That’s a memory that will always be near and dear to my heart because he taught me so much about the game. I was at an ice cream place the other day and thought to myself “Wow, grandpa and I would stop and get ice cream after every game.” We would stop and get ice cream whether we won or lost, if I played well or not so well. That was our thing.
What’s your favorite thing about Ada?
Definitely the people. Ada is full of great people. I notice this more and more everyday but especially in times of tragedy. A lot of people will drop whatever they are doing to help you out. Maybe it’s a small town thing but I love how close this community is.
Thanks for talking with us, Gabe.
