Source: The Central Virginian
There is about 95 years of experience between the both of them. Between managing the dispatch program for Pegasus at the University of Virginia and delivering babies in cars, Chiefs Gary Morris and Martin Hart Sr. have a lot of positive and negative stories from their time on the job, however, they both claim that volunteering is a passion that runs in the blood. In honor of EMS appreciation week, the Chief of the Louisa Rescue Squad and the Chief of the Holly Grove Fire Department both sat down to describe what their job entails, and how they often work in tandem.
Soon to be 55-years-old, Chief Gary Morris originally decided to get into the fire/EMS field with one of his buddies as a junior in high school. He began with the Orange Volunteer Fire Department, later joining the rescue squad where he was chief for five years. He gave credit to one of his longtime mentors, Linda Bell, for convincing him to take a step forward and get his medical EMT certification.
“I thought it was initially just going to be a cool thing that would be a phase, but it never really got out of my blood,” Morris stated. “Everyday is a challenge, but challenges are what make you stronger.”
Morris continued to work in multiple facets of EMS services, between 911, fire, and dispatch for the Richmond City Police and the Harrisonburg Fire Department. He moved to Louisa in 2008, where he has been a dedicated member ever since. He claims that Louisa is different because of the mixture of volunteers and paid personnel, but truly enjoys the ability to bring an alternative perspective.
“When I came in I was an outsider and wasn’t privy to any prior politics that would’ve gone on,” Morris stated. “So I feel like I brought a fresh set of eyes with different lenses and didn’t have that emotional investment. I think that really helped.”
Morris’s full-time job is the Manager of the Helicopter Dispatch Program at UVA for Pegasus. He recalled an accident years ago where one of his high school friends wrecked her car on Courthouse Rd. Morris stated that they had to fly her to the hospital, and that she had no idea it was him. After it was all said and done she made a full recovery, and later learned that it was Morris that potentially saved her life. According to Morris, to see her reaction and how appreciative she was truly warmed his heart. Now, as the volunteer Chief of the Louisa Rescue Squad and the County Assistant EMS Chief, he resides in Louisa with his wife and several dogs.
“My wife says my volunteer job as chief is my free, full-time job,” Morris said jokingly. “I told one of my mentors many years ago that when it stopped becoming fun or when I stopped feeling like I was making a difference was when I needed to stop—I don’t foresee that anytime soon.”
Chief of the Holly Grove Fire Department Martin Hart Sr. is 71-years-old with three kids, four grandkids and a great-grandson. One of his children, Clay Hart, followed in his footsteps to also become a firefighter; later becoming a member of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office. Hart Sr. retired from the City of Richmond in 2009, but has been a volunteer since 1979. He spent many years living in Michigan, where his father worked for the Detroit Police Department. Back in the early 2000’s, drownings at Lake Anna were becoming an issue, with a large number of incidents occurring yearly. Hart played a big role in creating the dive team, with the number of drownings dwindling ever since. After experiencing countless amounts of tragedies and emergencies, Hart explained that having thick skin is just what comes with the job.
“Unfortunately in this line of work you’re not seeing people at their happiest moment—and they’re not always tickled to death to see you either. If they see us there’s usually something very wrong,” Hart stated. “I’ve delivered 13 babies in my career. A good portion of those were in [Richmond] city, but I did deliver one at the Gum Springs Pit Stop in a car. And they’re now happy and healthy.”
While he claims he also has many positive experiences throughout his 71 years, there has just been nothing quite like volunteering. Hart stated that while there are some exceptions, those who aren’t in it for the monetary gain are typically the better workers. As Chief of the Holly Grove Fire Department, he explained the root of his passion.
“I took a real knack to the fire department and wanted more and more. It gets a bug in ya,” Hart stated. “The true heart of a volunteer is just something you can’t buy. And I know Gary [Morris] is the same way with his crew.”
In the midst of EMS appreciation week, Louisa Town Mayor Garland Nuckols offered his input on the two Louisa Chiefs, explaining that the citizens of Louisa County are in extremely good hands.
“I commend them both on how they carry out the membership of volunteers, they probably have the biggest volunteer agencies in the county,” Nuckols stated. “They both have exceptional skills as far as leadership, and if I was grading them on a one-to-ten scale they would be a twelve. They both have gone above and beyond.”