Shawn White was working as a 28-year-old paramedic when he was called to the home of a young family.
As he rushed past the balloons, presents and baby shower decorations he found himself by a backyard pool where all eyes were on an unconscious 2-year-old boy.
“The father grabbed me by both arms, looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Save my son,’ ” White said with tears in his eyes. “At that moment the weight of the job hit me. I realized that all of his hopes and dreams were in my hands.”
Although White and his crew were unable to save the child’s life, he learned an important lesson:
“This job is too important to just be OK at,” White said. “You have to be exceptional or else you can miss a window of opportunity.”
His passion for the job is part of the reason why Henderson City Manager Bob Murnane named White as the city’s 11th fire chief on Tuesday.