Firefighters Byron Temple and Creston Whitaker - Life in the Fire Service

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Following their long careers as firefighters  with the Dallas Fire Department, Byron Temple and Creston Whitaker join me, Mike Otto and Rett Blankenship to talk about their experiences.

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Episode Transcript

Chuck Hampton (00:06):
Hello everybody and welcome to Firehouse Talk. I
recently invited Byron Templeand Creston Whitaker two retired
Dallas firefighters to join me,my co host Mike Otto, and
retired DFD. Captain RettBlankenship for a cup of coffee
down at the Dallas FirefightersMuseum. While we were there, I
captured a little of theirpersonal stories on tape. We'll

(00:28):
get to those stories in amoment. But first a little
background. Both Byron andCreston joined the department in
1978. Byron was a highlyrespected paramedic who rode
711, one of the busiestambulances in the city for an
almost unheard of 25 years ofhis 37 year career, much longer
than most paramedics of that erawould serve in that capacity.

(00:52):
His medical skills wereexceptional, but he's probably
best known for his personalityand keen sense of humor. Perhaps
it was that ability to keep itlight and see the humor in
things that allowed him to avoidthe burnout that so many
paramedics experience. Crestonhad an unusual background in
that, although he didn't playcollege football, he did play in

(01:14):
the NFL before joining the firedepartment. We'll hear a little
about his years as a multi sportathlete, as well as his
distinguished Fire Servicecareer. Now on to our
conversation. So Crest, whatmade you want to be a
firefighter? How did thishappen?

Creston Whitaker (01:35):
Well, actually, I was trying to
develop a real estate business.
And I had a cousin in Illinois,who was a firefighter. And I had
no experience with thedepartment as far as knowing

(01:56):
when the shifts, shift hourswere or whatnot. I just noticed
that every time that I would goto Illinois, he was off work and
and I asked him, I said, Well,why are you what kind of work do
you do? And he says, Well, I'm afirefighter. And so that opened
my eyes initially to it, becauseI felt that, again, initially, I

(02:19):
would like to have preferredprofession where I could have
extra time to spend on realestate or other activities. And
I say initially, because I foundout soon enough, when I joined
that, that I had the love forthe department and the off time

(02:40):
was actually secondary.

Chuck Hampton (02:45):
Were you living in Texas at the time? And is
that how you came to apply withDallas? or How did you end up
choosing Dallas?

Creston Whitaker (02:52):
Yes, I was in Dallas at the time. And we just
to go back for family reunions,or visit different relatives,
but I just couldn't help butnotice he was always off work.
He never was working when I gotthere.

Chuck Hampton (03:10):
Now, before you joined the fire department, you
had been an athlete in college,right? Yes. And what was your
sport?

Creston Whitaker (03:22):
Well, actually, I participated in two
sports. I participated inbasketball at University of
North Texas and also in track.
And, and I was honored to beinducted into their Hall of Fame
for basketball and track in themiddle 90s. I believe it was.

Chuck Hampton (03:44):
And so after you left UNT, did you continue with
sports for a period of time?

Creston Whitaker (03:51):
Yes, I did. I played four years of
professional football in theNFL. I know it seems strange for
people that knew me and knewthat I played basketball and ran
track in college, but I was alittle discouraged. Because in

(04:13):
basketball, the Milwaukee Buckshad indicated that they were
going to draft me and when theyfinally were able to attain some
guy name, I think his name wasLou Alcindor. And they paid him

(04:35):
a record about amount or whathave you. And so we weren't able
to come to any kind of terms. SoI decided that I might consider
football and a AllPro safetywith the LA Rams again, by the
name of Eddie metter lived inDenton at the time and he had

(04:58):
heard that I was going to tryout with the Dallas Cowboys. And
so he contacted the Ramsorganization and George Adam was
the coach at that time. And theysent a scout down. And one thing
led to another and I was ableto, they offered me a contract.
And so I spent two years withthe Rams and two years with the

(05:22):
New Orleans Saints.

Mike Otto (05:24):
Interesting.

Chuck Hampton (05:26):
So after after that, you got on with the Dallas
fire department that would havebeen what year?

Creston Whitaker (05:34):
I joined the Dallas Fire Department in
February of 1978.

Chuck Hampton (05:42):
And then after rookie School, where did you get
assigned?

Creston Whitaker (05:48):
My first assignment was at three fire
station. And I'll never forgetcoming in first day as a rookie,
and I've got all my equipment onmy shoulders and carrying
everything I can. And no soonerthan I got in the door, the bell

(06:10):
hit. And so I was a littlestunned. But Captain Wachsman
was the captain and they wereall going to the apparatus. I
was in the apparatus room and heturned to me and he said, "Get
on something".

Mike Otto (06:35):
Sounds like Richard Wachsman.

Chuck Hampton (06:40):
So your initial experience at the fire station
was it an adventure orintimidating or what was it like
it? Your first days there.

Creston Whitaker (06:54):
I think initially, like most rookies, I
was a little bit intimidated,just by the various challenges
and things we would be facedwith. It took a while to
understand the mindset of manyof the firefighters the

(07:16):
agitation and things that go on.
But at that particular station,which threes was extremely busy.
Within three months, I think Ihad participated in first,
second, third, fourth and fifthalarm fire in three months time

(07:37):
at the station, and the fifthalarm fire was the at that time
was the highest rated fire thatyou could have.

Chuck Hampton (07:48):
And then paramedic school sometime within
that first year or two?

Creston Whitaker (07:55):
No, actually.
Well, I had initially gone toparamedic school, but I had a
death in the family. And so I Ihad to leave paramedic school
and I returned probably abouttwo years later. Which the
significance of it was that ourrookie class was the first class

(08:18):
that had signed the waiver, themandatory waiver indicating that
you must go to paramedic schooland you must pass paramedic
school. If not then you wereterminated from the department.
So there was a lot of pressureon people when when they went
into into paramedic school.

Chuck Hampton (08:44):
A lot. So, where did you get assigned to at a
paramedic school?

Creston Whitaker (08:51):
My first station? I believe it was 20 No,
excuse me. It was a six firestation. And again, at that
time, it was it was the numberone or the busiest station in
the city. And I felt that it wasa big challenge. And one of the

(09:17):
unusual things that took placethere was that we were at the
table eating dinner one nightand we looked out the dining
room window and we saw theambulance. The rescue as we call

(09:41):
them now. Going down the street,hardwood Avenue and now all of
us were sitting at the table. Sosomebody's stolen the ambulance
And sure enough, they had, wegot to the engine call the

(10:04):
police. And after about 25, 30minutes later, we were able to,
they were able to apprehend theperson that had taken it.

Chuck Hampton (10:23):
So, during your time on the fire department, did
you have any close calls at anincident where you felt like
maybe your life was in danger?

Creston Whitaker (10:35):
Yes I did, again, probably had been on the
department about two years. Andwhen I was at three station
still, we got a call for a onealarm fire initially. And when

(10:56):
we arrived, of course, we sawthe smoke, we can see the flames
coming out of the building and,and coming up the sidewalk was
this lady saying the proverbialsomebody is in there. Well, that
caused me to probably react alittle differently than I

(11:21):
probably should have and what Iwas trained to do, because
immediately, I jumped off theapparatus. And of course, back
in those days, we rode on thetail board, so I was on the tail
board and I didn't realize thatwhen I got off the apparatus to

(11:42):
go into the building, I didn'thave my, my mask, my SCBA but I
had made the commitment to goand she had shown me where where
to go. And so I was on secondfloor, I got up at the top of

(12:04):
the floor, and I wasn't able tosee anything because of the
smoke. So I dropped to my knees,which is symbolic. And I saw
this foot sticking up. And sowithout the mask or anything,
you know, I just went ahead andhad my prayer while I was there

(12:27):
on my knees and went on in and Iwas able to to get the citizen.
However, as I just as soon as Igot in the door, the backdraft
caused the door to blow shut. Bythat time, fortunately, my
captain and one of one of theother firefighters that was with

(12:53):
him, they had seen that I hadhad gone up up the stairs. And
so they were following me and Iheard them calling my name. And,
and so I mumbled and tried tomake as much noise as I could
and still, you know, obtainobtain my oxygen. And when they

(13:15):
realized that I was in whichapartment I was in and they
kicked the door in, and at thattime, I had the citizen on my
shoulder and came on out and wasable to carry him just to the
top of the stairs and thenthat's when I was relieved. And

(13:38):
I took the time to regurgitateand that was a Fortunately, my
captain Oh guy named DirtyTrimble, and Dirty called my
wife that night and told herwhat had happened. And when I

(14:04):
got home that next morning, mythree year old son met me at the
door. And he asked me saysDaddy, Are you brave and that
was a greatest reward I couldhave could have ever received I
did receive the DistinguishedService Award for that. But that

(14:25):
reward from that three year oldwho now is a captain currently
with the Dallas Fire Departmentwas very special.

Chuck Hampton (14:31):
One of the other gentlemen with us today is Baron
Temple who joined the departmentin 1978. Byron What led you to
career in the fire service.

Byron Temple (14:52):
It was funny I started off on the police side.
It was while I was at NorthTexas. I quit the basketball
team and somebody told me aboutthe cadet program with the
police department, and it's aboy 20 hours a week and to get
half the salary scholarship. SoI started doing that. And then I
turned over became a policeofficer. But I was 21. And they

(15:16):
gave me Monday and Tuesday nightoff working Midnight's you. And
I was a party and Monday,Tuesday and I saw my brother was
working at the airport DFWAirport. He said he'd come out
here, get dual train, police andfire, and then try to go into
what I wanted to be a skyMarshal. And that's okay. I like
that. So I left Dallas went outthe airport got trained. We'll

(15:37):
do a cat, another Academy. Andafter that came out, that's when
they came out with themagnetometers. And they will he
had to go through the metaldetectors and they got the
cameras and everything. So theygot rid of the sky marshals. So
now I'm at the airport and I'mhating it out here. And we'll be
Cornell. He left the airport oneto Dallas fire departments may
think about being a fireman,fireman this man you work 10

(16:00):
days a month I will then thelight bulb came home. Waiting 10
days a month is everyday goingis Friday. I said good. I went
ahead and went and talked to awilts Bailey. Two and a half
weeks later, I was hired on

Chuck Hampton (16:16):
what rookie class were you in? 182. Okay. And
where did you go out of rookieschool?

Byron Temple (16:23):
24s.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, I was petrified. Ididn't know any. I mean, I got
over there. And we had a fireright off the bat. And I heard
him on the radio pulling up. Wegot two ducks in the pond and I
didn't have a clue. And that washis you know, he always had an

(16:45):
acronym for a two alarm, Threealarm fire. Yeah. And so he
would come out with saying thealarm office knew what he was
talking about. And I was like,what's going on? Yeah, he was.
He was some character.

Chuck Hampton (16:57):
Ducks on a pond.
Yeah. Wow. And so were you therelong before you went to
paramedic school?

Byron Temple (17:04):
No, I was only there for about a month and I
sent me 55's. And it was like,night and day. I went from being
super busy to, 55s where I thinkmy first five shifts we didn't
make a run.

Chuck Hampton (17:16):
Yeah. So who would have been the officer at
55? March? Okay, March.

Byron Temple (17:21):
It's March. Yeah.
Yeah, he was great guy. Wait, Imean, I had back then they were
big into playing cards. Oh, somy job was to stay up front.
answer the door. answer thephones. Because you know, that's
all I do.

Chuck Hampton (17:39):
They played cards while you were doing that.

Byron Temple (17:41):
They did.

Chuck Hampton (17:42):
there wasn't any money exchanged in those card
games was there?

Byron Temple (17:48):
It was big time card games.
And his wife would call 50 timesa day and disrupt the game. I
mean, Marsh told me cuz I playeda bunch of basketball back then
he said, I'll tell you what.
Anytime you have a game on, youstay up there all day and answer
that phone and tell her thathe's out on the run.

(18:15):
She finally caught on and saidwait a minute, he can't be on
that many calls.
She was hot.

Chuck Hampton (18:33):
So after being at 55s a while, I would imagine
paramedic school?

Byron Temple (18:38):
It was funny because it was a Friday evening
and the mainline rings and capanswers it and then he said okay
and he hangs up and says be atEMT school on Monday. I asked
him where and he said "I don'tknow". I'm going out there to
you know, they told me to parkover there with the clinic was
Yeah, you know, cross street.
And I was all over the hospitaltrying to find that letter

(18:59):
supposed to be I finally foundit. And as man this is crazy and
they told Okay, you go toprimary school, then you go back
to the station. I said okay, Ican I can deal with that. So
what paramedic school we gotthrough now, EMT school, we got
through that Friday again. Theytold us as we're leaving to be
back Monday for paramedicschool, as well so much for

(19:21):
going back to the station. Wewent through all everything just
right through.

Chuck Hampton (19:28):
And so where did you end up right in the
ambulance?

Byron Temple (19:33):
Went two shifts to 34 I never saw the ambulance
didn't speak to me nothing. Imean, he just told me to your on
this and he just you knowwhatever. Wow, let me so I was
in my little corner and just,you know, just a to myself and
it was horrible. And at thattime you got your vacation by

(19:56):
how much time you had on youtake you five shifts. So I came
out got over there. In February,and when I came in that third
shift is where you're onvacation. I Li go home, all five
shifts to come back from fiveshifts. And they said, Well, now
you've been transferred. Nobodycalled me. Wow. And they
transfer me to elevens. So, I'mleaving from 34s and get to 11s.

Now it's about 07 (20:21):
15 and King Carl is eating my ass out for
being late. As a recap, I said,I went into the station over
there. They didn't even tell meuntil a few minutes ago that
I've been transferred. Nobodytold me nothing. They had to
call you. I'm telling you cafenobody called me they didn't
tell me anything. And so, or he,he rode me for about two years.

(20:43):
I mean, I could do nothingright. But that was everybody. I
mean, that was one thing. He wasnot prejudice.

Chuck Hampton (20:49):
Yeah, he hated everybody, equally.

Byron Temple (20:53):
Two years later, I could do no wrong.

Mike Otto (20:56):
I'm curious. You mentioned 34's those first
couple shifts, and nobody'stalking to you. I mean,
literally?

Byron Temple (21:07):
no talking. They told me what I was riding. And
that was it.

Mike Otto (21:11):
Interesting. What was your perception of that? At the
time? If you don't mind measking him he just was he just,
this is the way we treat ourrookies around here.

Byron Temple (21:20):
Well, after I got to looking around, I found out
only I was the only person ofcolor on all three shifts. I
kind of figured out what thatwas. You know, but I wasn't
going to lose sleep over it.

Mike Otto (21:30):
Right. Right. Right.
Okay. Interesting. I justwondered what your perception
was.

Byron Temple (21:34):
No, I knew they were not very happy for me to be
there. And they told me that Icouldn't ride the ambulance..
Unless, you know... That's fine.
You know, that's what you say.
But, okay.

Chuck Hampton (21:57):
Okay, so you ended up over at elevens with
King Carl. And did you end upstaying at elevens very long?

Byron Temple (22:05):
I only stayed there 25 years.

Chuck Hampton (22:09):
So, did end up being a pretty fun place to
work.

Byron Temple (22:12):
Oh it was great.
Yeah, it was. I mean, super,super busy. I didn't realize how
busy and how tired I was until Ileft there. Yeah. And I went to
fourteens. And we didn't makeruns after seven eight at night.
And I was, you know, cat cantell you we and Mike too. We had
a little pot gone. Putting $1 aday. And then whoever had to
watch when nobody went out. Yep.

(22:34):
You know, until that nextmorning after 10 o'clock. Yeah,
you got all the money. And webought all kinds of stuff with
station because nobody ever gotthat

Rett Blankenship (22:43):
happened like the first week a guy got it. And
then it didn't happen again foryears.

Byron Temple (22:47):
Yeah. I mean, we had a lot of money stored up.

Chuck Hampton (22:52):
Yeah, because on a typical night and elevens
you're going up and down thosestairs, up and down, everybody.
Yeah, everybody.

Creston Whitaker (22:59):
What did elevens have a reputation for?
rookies or people for the firsttime coming to that station that
there's a window up above theentrance and seemed like a lot
of people would get doused asthey came in from the parking
lot.

Byron Temple (23:18):
The thing was, it was more than one window. People
just always they call it thePhantom. Nobody ever saw what
happened. They probably knew. Inever would have seen doing it.
At one time. I even got up inthe bed of the truck. I was
laying down in the in the latterbed. When the engine came back

(23:39):
in and got to God he was stilllooking upstairs looking through
the bucket on and I was off thetop of the truck. Yeah, we had a
ball. It was it was a greatstage. That's good.

Mike Otto (23:51):
Great. gazzard jc Anderson, man.

Byron Temple (23:56):
We got some tasty Anderson stories.

Rett Blankenship (23:59):
And the water fights were legendary before the
remodel. When they remodeled it.
Everything was new. Yeah. But itused to be you know, pulling off
cross lies and just pulling themup.

Byron Temple (24:12):
stairs. Oh, yeah,

Rett Blankenship (24:13):
water just pouring through the pole holes.
Because the station was alreadylike 75 years old and disrepair.
And everybody thought well, whatwhat's a little water?

Chuck Hampton (24:36):
So as I understand it, you were
paramedic of the Year in 1994.
Right? Yeah. Was there aparticular incident that you
think resulted in that it wasjust kind of an overall it work
ethic?

Byron Temple (24:49):
Probably overall, because they would send me most
of the time some of the worstinterns down

Chuck Hampton (24:57):
so there was a little extra help in order to be
able to pass their internsRight, yeah.

Byron Temple (25:00):
And someone that could, I could work with just
about just about anybody youknow, you know, so they knew
that I was just gonna, you know,blow him off. And you know, I'm
gonna give him a fair shot. AndI, you know, I enjoyed rotten
apples because yeah, I alwaystold him that if you go out, and
if you're nice to people don'tcare if you do something wrong,
they're not gonna complain onyou. If you treat them right.

(25:22):
You'll never have a problem. Soif you don't know about a
problem.

Chuck Hampton (25:40):
Also, you worked off duty actually teaching
paramedic school or

Byron Temple (25:46):
another funny story? Yeah, Milan rings, I pick
it up. It was a female. And shesays Debbie case and Barnum were
talking about, you know, wouldyou like to become an
instructor? And I hung up asnurses come out, we give them
hell at stake. Yes. Yeah. Imean, we wouldn't do anything
wrong, you know, but theyalways, you know, they always

(26:10):
thought they were so much betterthan us. And we will prove them,
you know, you know, you're goodin the classroom, and we get out
in the streets, you know, andthen we can really show you some
Yeah. So, and then when shecalled, she had a chief call me
and say for me to call herreally, you know, for I believe
it? Because that's an ain't noway they were asking for me. But
once I got there, I enjoyed it.
You're trying to help the guysand everything? Yeah, they had

(26:32):
some instructors out there. Youknow, y'all came through. I
mean, they just, they couldtreat you like dirt, because
they knew that you had to pass.
Are you gonna lose your job?
And, you know, I didn't, Ididn't like that. So they're
trying to help.

Chuck Hampton (26:46):
So you were actually a paramedic for how
many years? 25. And hell, sodelivery babies during that
time? Batman, is that right?
Yeah. That's That's a lot. Iunderstand. Crest may actually
have your record of beatenthough, how many babies to do
the liver crest,

Creston Whitaker (27:05):
I delivered 16. Well, I think what what was
unique back in that time wasthat women didn't have the type
of prenatal care that they havenow. So it and I'm sure, Byron
you agree that it was wasn'tunusual for a baby to be

(27:27):
delivered every week, you know,within the Dallas Fire
Department somewhere. But one ofthe unique things about it was
that after I had delivered thisone particular baby, and if in
fact that was in in the bedroomof their house and wasn't even
in the ambulance, you know, itwas time but at any rate, the

(27:51):
hospital Methodism, Colorado,unlike any other time before
said that I had to sign thebirth certificate, because
normally the doctors you'llthey'll do D and C, whatever.
And they'll sign it. And theycure that birth certificate out
to the fire station. I signedit, they gave me a copy of it.

(28:14):
And I have it to this day on mywall. But because the fact that
I haven't I retained the birthcertificate. I knew the name of
the little girl 13 years later,when I was substitute teaching

(28:35):
at a junior high school, I sawthis name. And after the class,
I called the girl up, and Iasked her I said, Where were you
born? She said I was born inhome the paramedics I'm a
paramedic and to this day, wehave main contact. She is a

(29:01):
mother now and she has forged aweb app she has a grandchild now
but but that was really specialand cherish that moment that all
because they required me to signthe bursted. I've never I've

(29:22):
never had it happen to me beforeuntil that one particular time
and they they carried out tothis fire station. So that was
pretty special. Yeah.

Chuck Hampton (29:48):
So what about on the trauma side of things? A lot
of shootings and stabbings phone711

Byron Temple (29:54):
Oh yeah. It was therefore a stretch probably in
the 80s Every weekend, there wasa shooting or stabbing all of
them down maple. We had two setsof projects that we answered
also. And it was what was uniqueabout 11th you have some of the
richest people in the scenealong with two sets of projects
and within about three miles andit's just, it's just unique. You

(30:18):
wouldn't ever say that you gotout of Turtle Creek and they got
houses with wooden garages, Imean with the elevator, and then
you can go right across 75 rightthere and projects.

Mike Otto (30:29):
And so it's interesting. Nowadays, you know,
the city of Dallas is homiciderate has been hovering at a
little over 200 I think for thelast several years give or take
up and down a little bit. Butthat 80s that you refer to when
we were actually settinghomicide records. We have over
500 homicides within the citylimits of Dallas for several

Creston Whitaker (30:53):
years in

Byron Temple (30:54):
a row posse was here to the big game. Remember
making a posse when they camedrone In fact, you remember when
he got into shoot out the leaderof them and killer and then they
took put them in Parkland. Andremember they came storm the
hospital to break them out. Andthat's when they finally went
ahead and got gone to officersin Parkland because of that.

(31:16):
They came into shooting I mean,David was shooting them out
trying to get them out thehospital. But I mean it was
every weekend. Yeah, they would.
It was a violent city, it wouldmake examples out of people.
Like if you did them wrong withthe drugs. Like I remember over
in South Dallas who made thatone wrong. They stacked about
seven of them in the bathtub.
And one of them was alive. Heplayed there. And we know we

(31:39):
were just taking bodies off. Andthen you know, he kind of opened
his eyes and it scared me like Idon't know what but he was
alive. Wow. But they and then wehad one over projects over off
kings. He was a friend of one ofthe running backs of SMU and
they met to kill him. He had a300 zx shot on 16 times but it
was his buddy wasn't him. Oh,wow. SMU kept saying that he was

(32:02):
leaving the team for personalreasons and stuff now they were
hot. They come running back hecame in right after.

Chuck Hampton (32:16):
Where did you mostly ride down Blitz crest.

Creston Whitaker (32:20):
Primarily threes and sixes. Okay.

Chuck Hampton (32:24):
And I calls it which are always like neck and
neck. Oh,

Creston Whitaker (32:27):
yeah, they were they're always up there.
And again, back at that time,I'm sure you can relate to that.
It was a lot of lot of traumacalls anyway. But but there
wasn't any automatic dispatch ofthe police. You know, if you

(32:49):
needed the police, you wouldcall them. And I can recall an
incident where we had a man hadthat had been shot. And he was
on this. He was on the sidewall.
And so the My partner and Irolled up, and of course,

(33:10):
there's always a crowd ofpeople, you know, for shootings,
stabbings, things, or maybe 5060people, you know, standing
around waiting on the camerasand wave is in. But at any rate,
we went up to the patient, andsure enough, he had been shot
and my partner went back to getthe stretcher and, and the

(33:31):
patient was conscious. And hewas talking and I was trying to
find out what had happened orand he said well in it, we just
did it all of a sudden and wejust kind of disoriented but
which I could understand. Andthis guy kept coming up to me

(33:51):
that was on the sides. And is hegoing to live is he going to
live you know and say please,you know, please stay back and
give us a chance to assess himand is he going to live is he
going to live and after thethird time, you know to get the
gaff my back. I said I thinkhe's going to make it. The guy
pulls out his gun shooting. Hewas the guy that had originally

(34:14):
shot him and he finished himoff. And from that moment on,
and once we reported thatincident, they started
dispatching police, police forshootings and stabbings and
things automatically. And I wasthe sixes at that time and and

(34:36):
it really because when thatincident happened I immediately
you know of course called forthe police and started
backpedaling myself and the guydidn't do us any harm at all. In
fact he laid the gun down andremain there until the police

(34:57):
arrived. Wow, he just wanted himday.

Chuck Hampton (35:04):
That was actually my next question was do we know
why he wanted? He may have had agood reason

Creston Whitaker (35:10):
for that. I didn't know but Mission
accomplished.

Rett Blankenship (35:24):
Biron Is it true that I wasn't that elevens
when they started the randomdrug testing, but I heard that
you weren't too thrilled aboutit happening, that they come in
there and wanted you to givethem a sample and you came back
with something different thanwhat they wanted. Is that true?

Byron Temple (35:40):
It wasn't that I was not happy. They were trying
to kick somebody at our station.
And they wouldn't admit it,because they just kept coming
back. And you know, like, somestations might get tested once.
And they came to our stationslike four times in four months.
Hmm. And you know, who they weretrying to get? Yeah. So she told
me that, you know, go give her asample. So I went, I bought some

(36:01):
mountain dew. And so I went tothe bathroom. And I got a little
pebble. And I dropped it inthere. And I came out I was
shaking. So I think I just did astone
that she looked at the colorboard and she was hot. Go back

(36:27):
in and go into my regular. Somuch we even knew the first
night. Wow.

Chuck Hampton (36:42):
So you rode for 24 years 25 you rode for how
many years? I was

Creston Whitaker (36:49):
a paramedic for 13 years.

Chuck Hampton (36:53):
13 years. Okay, we just still quest, especially
at that time was a pretty longtime, I would think.

Creston Whitaker (36:58):
Yes. Yes. I fortunately, I promoted out when
I, you know, made Lieutenantthen.

Chuck Hampton (37:07):
And did you go to a 780 job or what was your first
lieutenants position?

Creston Whitaker (37:12):
My first lieutenants position was at at a
fire station itself. And, infact, it was doubted 40 threes.
And and again at that time,lieutenants were not shift
officers themselves. Everystation had a captain and a

(37:34):
lieutenant even if there's asingle company house. And I was
blessed to have a great, greatCaptain that kind of schooled me
along. And and I think that thattraining was was was very, very

(37:58):
important and a key to do medeveloping the confidence and
things because I don't wementioned earlier not but when
Byron and I both first came onin in 7879. Long in there. I
mean, there were no blackofficers on the department. And

(38:21):
there were a few when when whenwhen I became Lieutenant but but
at at that time while I was at40 threes, then they decided
that they were going to allowlieutenants to go to stations
and actually be the shiftofficer. And if it's a single

(38:44):
company house within there beone captain and two lieutenants
on the other shifts. And so Ihad the opportunity to go to 50
ones and, and I was a shiftofficer. And that was a real
gratifying, challengingsituation. Certainly, though, as
a lieutenant.

Mike Otto (39:04):
So grass there a minute ago, you mentioned
captain of 40 threes, it reallymentored and helped you as a
young officer when you just madelieutenant. Could you tell us
who that was? Yes, that

Creston Whitaker (39:17):
was Captain Gary level. And he really spent
a lot of time with me. And I'llnever forget that when when I
left 43 and that was the timewhen I was assigned to 50 ones a
station as the shift officer andI would be responsible to manage

(39:45):
the shift or supervisor shift.
And I remember Gary turned to meand he says question. Now when
you go over to that station keepin mind that that station was
running fine before you gotthere. That was the best advice
I could ever receive him, youknow. And, of course, what he
was saying is don't try toreinvent the wheel or anything

(40:06):
like that, you know, just makechanges that are needed. But
But, you know, just be practicalabout how you handle things. And
when you do make changes thatthat they are necessary changes.
And anyway, I certainlyappreciated that advice. I've

(40:30):
never forgotten that.

Rett Blankenship (40:39):
You mentioned him being or helping you out a
lot. For both question for bothof y'all is, who did y'all find
his good mentors in thedepartment people that you
really looked up to? Who, whoimpressed you and gave you some

(40:59):
good insights on how to survivein the fire department or bored
words of wisdom or,

Byron Temple (41:07):
for me, people won't believe it, but it was
actually was King Kong. I mean,they will people on the
department that if they could,they would kill that man. I
mean, they hated him. And when Iworked there at first, you know,
there's no way I you know, Ihated them, too. But I learned
so much from them. And from whatI learned from him, I knew what

(41:28):
I couldn't what I couldn't do.
And that's what you know, Iknew, like I said, if I went
somewhere and I wouldn't treatit, right. I knew how to get
around it. You know, I could doall the way up to that point
where, you know, I'll keep mefrom getting in trouble. But
now, you know that I know whatyou're doing. You know, so I
mean, he, he really helped me alot. I mean,

Rett Blankenship (41:46):
anybody else that comes to mind? You're good?
Oh, no, no, no. We got more thanone person. I don't mean.

Byron Temple (42:03):
Good. And, but a lot of them tennis came to 11th.
And we had some greatlieutenants. I mean, Otto was
good. David Kenny. And we hadsome some some great guys come
through. And what was funnyabout David Kenny was he
couldn't stand don't cheat,don't cheat, because she thought

(42:23):
and Won't you know, he was thesmartest man in the world. So it
wasn't candy want him to thinkhe was a Thomas man. He came
over to do something just crazy.
We had a balding lab.

Chuck Hampton (42:41):
David getting's good.
At some point, you made atransition and went to
communications.

Creston Whitaker (42:54):
Yes, I. But Ronan Gamez was the deputy I
think at that time, and seems tobe that that's when the alarm
office change their shifts fromthree until four, four shifts.

(43:15):
So the firefighters in the alarmoffice, were working toward me
for hours, and they would be off72. And, of course, that
appealed to me. And so Iremember calling chief gammas
and expressing my interest. Andhe said that, well, there were a

(43:39):
few things I would need to doand provide him with the resume,
which I did. And about fourmonths later, I was assigned to
the alarm office, and I was thefirst African American officer
to work in the alarm office. Andthat was challenging, because,

(44:03):
as you know, Chuck, you workdown there, yourself. Anybody
that goes into the alarm office,whether you're a captain or are
or a non officer, you're at aloss for four weeks or maybe

(44:23):
months while you're down there.
You know it it is sochallenging, and thank God,
David Henry, and probably otherstoo. But I know David Henry told
me it takes at least a year toget halfway comfortable with
this and at least two years toreally get good at it. And I
think that was true. There's noquestion about it and David was

(44:44):
down there and help assist me inwhat I was doing and, and and
then, probably about six monthsafter I had been down there. The
captain that was on the shift Iwas unable to work and they
didn't replace him. And so I wasthe only officer on the floor

(45:08):
during our shift at that timefor about a year. And that was
was pretty challenging. But thatwas probably the best tour of
duty that I had with the firedepartment because it gave me
the type of insight within thedepartment that I never really

(45:29):
had. Except for rookie school.
But, but even then it reinforcedthat because you can see the
practical aspects of why anengine goes with an ambulance
or, or how calls come in, or whyan ambulance doesn't show up on
time or, or the confusion on thetelephone when people were

(45:53):
calling in, you get a firsthandexperience in that and so that
that really helped metremendously throughout my
career.

Chuck Hampton (46:04):
Yeah, if you really want to know how the fire
department works, that's a greatplace to see it from the inside
out.

Byron Temple (46:10):
Yeah, I should have been there when there was
no Bartell memory, the firedepartment ran to 87 and living
room that they were sitting in.
They got eight hour shifts, theyleave an alarm office come to
the hospital. Yes, a littleroom, and we call them to them.
You know, that was 287 that'swhat that was. Call Number four.
Okay. And yeah, they call itthey call them let's calls.

Chuck Hampton (46:34):
Wow, I remember in paramedic school, going out
there and see and there's adispatcher out there named Glenn
Robbins. Do you remember goodRobins
there was some nurse that wasbeing real nice to me. And kind
of cute and glinted, stay awayfrom her. That's the one that

(46:59):
got all them guys in trouble.
Down in City Hall. Man man

Rett Blankenship (47:10):
that was back in the days when we didn't get
there was no gloves on theambulance except what was in the
kit. So whatever blood orwhatever you go back to Bobtail
there been a bunch of paramedicssitting around with blood
capetonians drinking a cup ofcoffee.

Byron Temple (47:27):
If you got bloodied up, it was like going
into fire and get smoked. Imean, you were exactly that.
Well, that's exactly true. Yeah,it was a sign right that you
were real medic. Yeah,

Rett Blankenship (47:35):
I clean up or anything. Yeah,

Creston Whitaker (47:37):
I had gotten to the point where, you know, I,
the blood and guts was was aproblem for me. You know, it
used to be you know, a lot ofguys, you know, man that that
shows your honor and all thatstuff. And so I started wearing
gloves before the department,you know, administered them. And
I had these dishwashing gloves,you know? And it was never time

(48:00):
that I'm going into the hospitalthat those nurses and things why
are you wearing gloves? Why areyou wearing and I did that
happen for a better part of theyear? I remember. And then all
of a sudden it did. You know hemight auto start where you

Chuck Hampton (48:15):
were ahead of your time? Yeah. the AIDS
epidemic. Yeah.

Creston Whitaker (48:21):
It just you know, cuz I had that thing about
I didn't like being in blood andguts and all that stuff. And
then I'll never forget that thatday. Everybody, the doctors,
nurses, all of you. How come youweren't close? You know? And

Byron Temple (48:37):
the station had the big bang where we do all the
Oh,

Rett Blankenship (48:40):
o da news, the grossest thing Oh, far too far.
Yeah. And pretty bad. As theywere phasing in gloves.
Remember, they bought us everypuzzle, or they bought autopsy
gloves, but you shared them.
They were kind of thicker andbigger than you would like, once
you use them, you wash them outand then right? Yeah, leave them
for the next year. That way, Ididn't have to buy like single

(49:00):
mocks. Well, I'm

Chuck Hampton (49:09):
gonna go back to something you said a minute ago,
you're talking about, you know,you'd started wearing gloves
before other people did beforethe AIDS epidemic didn't really
like the blood and guts and alland that made me think, you
know, as far as you know, peoplewere like, what you know, did
did the blood and guts botheryou and stuff and to me? It
really didn't, but was alwayseerie to me worse, like, imagine

(49:32):
what people's last moments werelike. And I'm thinking of like,
where I've got somebody astabbing victim and you see the
defensive wounds where theirhands are cut into, as they were
holding their hands up to try tofend off the knife. And I'm
thinking, you know, what wasthis person's thoughts at this
point in time, and I've wonderedsince y'all both rolled the

(49:55):
amulets for a long time. Wasthere anything that really
bothered Did you? Was it theblood and guts? Was it some or
something like, you know, seeingchildren or imagining like I did
what their last moments waslike, was there anything that
ever caused you to lie in bed atnight a little bit? And the

(50:17):
thinking thoughts instead ofgetting back to sleep, for me,
it

Byron Temple (50:20):
would be for one kids. That was the hardest call
if you had a trauma, or any kindof call on a kid that didn't
make it that that's the hardestone. And the second would be if
somebody you knew, and we've hadI've had to work on fireman,
what's his name from threes? Igot hit that time, but Oh, yeah.

(50:41):
Russell Jones. Oh, we, uh, hetook his last breath. And we
invaded and brought him back.
And he fought us all the way toyou know, we got him intubate,
he fought us all the way back tothe, to the hospital, and those
kind of calls that you alwaysremember. And it was before we
knew about PTSD. Yeah. And oncewe started getting that
training, right, I didn't thinkit was really any good until I
started, you know, listening towhat they were saying. And then

(51:03):
I started thinking about some ofthe stuff that I went through.
And it's Yeah, that's true. Andit really happens, you know, you
think about it. made a call,Keaton rec got thrown out, look
just like your son, same age,everything, he couldn't ride
them anymore after that, I mean,it really messed him up. So
those those two really botheryou. And then the other part,

(51:25):
you kind of get immune to it andit is bad because you see it so
much it doesn't even bother youjust go on is like going to
Kroger and picking up meat, youknow, is it doesn't bother you.
And then you bring it home andyou know, your wife cut a finger
and you look

Chuck Hampton (51:44):
at that is not this response.

Byron Temple (51:49):
But you get program like that, you know,
he's all you know, just run somewater on you know, I need some
attention, you know, transport

Rett Blankenship (52:06):
an open fracture, donate, right? I'm
watching.

Byron Temple (52:10):
Even in high school, we'll play we're playing
ball coach told you if you'renot bleeding, you ain't hurt.
Yeah. And that's how you know wewill train.

Chuck Hampton (52:18):
That's true.
That's true. Chris, did you haveanything you wanted to add to
that?

Creston Whitaker (52:23):
Yeah, I will always remember the first run
that I had as a certifiedparamedic, and we arrived, and
it was a, a small child,probably 12 months, 14 months or

(52:45):
so. And the parent had taken thescrewdriver and stuck it
through, it was actually throughthe eyeball of that baby. The
father had done that, and himand the mother were arguing or
fighting and for whateverreason, he chose to do that.

(53:09):
And, and I remember riding allthe way to the hospital, trying
to deal with the to keep thescrewdriver from moving any more
than necessary. But of course,those of you that are written in
ambulances realizes how roughthey ride anyway. And that baby

(53:31):
was just in so much pain anddrama, that I really began to
question if this was theprofession that I wanted to do
or not, because that took anawful lot out of me.
Fortunately, the baby lived. Itwas blind, then in that I of
course, but it just was so sad.
And to to experience somethingof that nature. Of course, we

(54:00):
had to call the police and theycame out and arrested the guy
and I think he's still inprison. But some of those type
of incidents and as Byron wassaying, can make you catalyst in
other aspects of your life. Butbut that's something that I've

(54:23):
always made me even more partialcourse, small children.

Mike Otto (54:42):
So gentlemen, I've got a question for you. As we
mentioned earlier, when Chuckdid the introductions, you guys
are a couple of African Americangentlemen that were some of the
first to be hired on the Dallasfire department and I'm some
Buddy that is really interestedin history and civil rights is

(55:04):
something that's alwaysintrigued me, you know, because
a lot of that stuff was going onwhen I was growing up gi man. I
know that both of you are veryinvolved with the black
firefighters Association, Ithink crashed you were actually
the president of the BFA for aperiod of time. I think a lot of

(55:26):
people are always wondering whywhy do we Why do we need three
labor organizations? Because wehave the Dallas firefighters
Association, which is thelargest employment or employees
group, and then we have theHispanics firefighters
Association, and the BFA. And,you know, a lot of people feel I

(55:48):
give the three would unite,which I think probably the three
do unite on certain things. Butif you were to to be able to
speak to some of these peoplethat wonder why, why was there a
need to form a blackfirefighters Association? And
maybe you could address that,and maybe you could then address

(56:10):
some of the advancements thatwere put into place? Or they
were enabled people's careers toprosper? What do you want to be
like to speak to that?

Creston Whitaker (56:26):
Yes, I'd be glad to do share. My my feelings
regarding what I felt was theneed for that. And to give an
analogy, my daughter, and I hada, I have a daughter. And as she

(56:48):
was growing up, my wife insistedon her having a black now, which
were not on the retail market.
It was very, very difficult tofind a black Now, of course
Barbie and gain and all thedoubts that we're not have
cover. Now, one who is not ofcover might ask the question,

(57:15):
well, what difference does thatmake? It The difference is in
the fact that it's important tosee yourself in something to
progress. When Barack Obamabecame president, the
significance of a AfricanAmerican person saying an

(57:39):
African American presidentprovides the type of confidence
to move forward and to be asoutstanding as you can be. If
you grow up, and if every timeyou turn around, you don't see
anybody that looks like you thatis successful, then that makes a

(57:59):
it makes it very difficult forthat person to overcome some of
the obstacles that they're facedwith. And I think that with the
fire department, I think Imentioned before that we were
the one of the first classes tohave mandatory paramedic school

(58:23):
we had to pass. But we were alsoone of the first classes and
Byron you can probably vouch forthis, where the city of Dallas
had made the decision to hire inin all hirings. At that time,
half of the class 50% of theclass had to be minority. And

(58:44):
either Hispanic or AfricanAmerican or Asian, or whatever
the case was that theme female.
That half of the class had to bemade up of minorities, for the
very reason that there was sucha shortage within the Dallas

(59:07):
Fire Department, policedepartment as well, but and it
took decisions and ranprocedures of that nature in
order to allow people such asmyself, who I'm thankful that I
had the opportunity where Imight not have had the

(59:29):
opportunity had there not havebeen a certain amount of
pressure that was put on thecity. And this pressure comes
from organizations which canpromote the benefit of their
own. And therefore,organizations such as the black
firefighter Association, is asgoing to address sensitive

(59:53):
issues to African Americanfirefighters. And it's just for
lack of a better term, it's anecessary evil, you know, to
people that aren't of color inthis, possibly but but those of
us who are African Americans cantruly say that organizations

(01:00:17):
like that have allowed us to beable to accomplish and do the
things that we were able to do.

Mike Otto (01:00:24):
What do you think?
Yeah,

Byron Temple (01:00:26):
well spec to my experience. I mean, I know guys
that might have gotten introuble, and go to the local 58
and ask them for assistance. andnine times out of 10, they will
turn them down. I mean, theyjust they will not their form. I
mean, we were paying money, justlike everybody else. And I've
seen some guys did some horriblestuff. And they backed them all

(01:00:48):
the way. Then ask them guys dosome minor stuff, and they
refused, you know, to help themthen you're out there on your
own. And aggressive alluded toearlier when we hired on, there
was no such thing as a blackofficer. Yeah, it was nobody you
could turn to and it was veryfew people you can go to just
ask for you know, any kind of,Hey, you know, what did you do
in this situation? What did youdo in that situation? You know,

(01:01:08):
you had to learn on the fly. Andso if you were the type that
couldn't stand, the pressurethey put on you, then you're
gonna get in a lot of trouble. Iwas blessed with the ability
docket, I was taught my way outof anything. All right, you
know, if I want to make you mad,and you're trying to make me

(01:01:29):
mad, I guarantee you, I'll getto you before you get to me. And
that helped me a lot throughbecause I went to some stations
where I came into situationswhere I mean, they will just be
an outwardly racist. I want tothrees one time serving for I'm
Sherry Wilson. I mean, how areyou? So for each other, went
back to school. And that first Igot in that morning, and man and

(01:01:49):
samples, he swung in. And I sawthe guy walk around asking
everybody in the station, how doyou want your eggs never came to
us. So when they came to eat,when they go eat? And so I
picked up a plate, he's way Youdidn't tell us what you want us,
you didn't ask me. I said, Iain't got no invisible ink on
me. So those are my eggs. Notright now. These are mine. Just

(01:02:15):
you know, stuff like that. Wherewas nobody I could go, Hey, you
know, they're doing this to medoing that. You had to do it on
your own. Now, these guys, theyhave associations that they know
that they have their bestinterests at hand. And that's
why I feel like everyassociation that you know, if
you're black, and you're goingto an association that doesn't
have your best interests. Andthey think that what you're

(01:02:36):
saying is, you know, there'sreally nothing, you can't get
anything done from that. Sothat's why I feel like the black
firefighter Association for me.
Well, I didn't have to use them.
But I was used by them to helpother people. And I'm
appreciative of that. Well,it's,

Mike Otto (01:02:53):
it's interesting, I appreciate both your
perspectives on that both of youguys. You know, I've known Byron
for years, you know, and, andI've known of graston for years.
And both of you guys have, youknow, stellar reputations, you
know, amongst all your peers inthe in the fire department. And

(01:03:13):
I think, for the listener thatthat maybe had never considered
those perspectives. I think it'sa hopefully, it's eye opening,
you know, to sit back and try tolook at things through somebody
else's field of view.

Chuck Hampton (01:03:28):
Chris, before we started the show today, and
before we had turned on therecorder, you had answered a
question, I think read it askedyou, you were in it spun off
into a story about somethingthat happened to you once
involving a noose. And I thoughtthat was interesting, as

(01:03:49):
wondered if you could recountthat story for our listeners.

Creston Whitaker (01:03:52):
Sure. Early on in my career very early. I was
at a station and having beenthere for maybe two shifts or
three shifts. In fact, what waswhat really struck me as being

(01:04:14):
strange is that the captain ofthat station never spoke to me
for three shifts. It was it tookthree shifts before he ever
acknowledged me. He never saidhello or what have you. But at
any rate, I had gone to to mybed and on my bed was a

(01:04:35):
hangman's noose. Now, when I sawit a year ago, I had to to try
to think it think it throughbecause my first reaction it
made me very angry. But then Igot to thinking that well, maybe
I can use this as a learningexperience not only for myself

(01:05:00):
But for the people involved in,so what I did is that I
simulated a hanging with thatnews with the chair and I made
it look like I had hung myselfso that when they came back to
the bedroom, the first personthat saw me was screaming and
hollering and ran over andgrabbed me in hopes that he

(01:05:21):
could save my life. And ofcourse, as he was touching me,
and then the others were comingback to the bedroom, then I was
laughing as well. And thatmoment was so special, because
they realize that it was notgood judgment on their part to
do that. And, and we became bestfriend from that point on. And I

(01:05:48):
think that they learned a lessonfrom that. And the lesson I
learned is that if sometimes ifyou take the high road that you
can resolve a situation muchbetter than then just allowing
your bitterness to, to take overthe situation.

Byron Temple (01:06:11):
I have come across some guys that I've became good
friends with. And once I got toknow them and start talking to
them, finding out that they'venever worked with a black
person, and they've never goneto school with a black person.
And it was totally different forthem. And I come from army
background, my dad was army Iwas used to, you know,

(01:06:33):
integration. So I didn't seethat. And but they still some of
them to this day, you know, theystill look down on you, like,
you know, I'm still better thanyou. And you know, I kind of it
kind of bothers you, when youreally looking at the weight
right now I trained you, but youbetter than me, you know, and
you have to look at them and youjust shake your head. But if

(01:06:53):
some of them, they just they'reoblivious. They don't they don't
have a clue that

Chuck Hampton (01:06:57):
they are and they may be oblivious, because of
that lack of integration. But Ithink also maybe, in some cases,
a lack of education. And I'mgoing to tell a story on myself
in that regards. Mack Otto and Iwere in rookie class two or
three together. And there was anincident where a white member in

(01:07:18):
our class made a noose, I thinkprobably out of that rookie rope
or something. And then one ofthe black members in our class
got offended. And so these twowere, you know, having a big
verbal fight nearly came toblows. I didn't understand why I

(01:07:39):
didn't understand what the issuewas. I didn't understand why a
hangman's noose would beoffensive to anybody. And that
was literally a hole in myeducation, you know, the ad just
literally didn't have anyunderstanding of the cultural
background and issue there. So.
So unfortunately, we've got alot of history to learn.

Creston Whitaker (01:08:04):
I think, if I could mention, Chuck, that one
of the the reasons that hasallowed me to possibly be more
objective than then maybe a lotof African Americans might be
because growing up in Illinois,I had always gone to integrated

(01:08:28):
schools. The first time that Ihad an African American roommate
was when I came, went to collegeand came to Texas to go to
college yet, because I wasalways in an integrated
environment. In high school, Iwas the only African American on

(01:08:53):
the football team. And we wentand played this other school out
of town. And after the game,went to the restaurant, and the
restaurant owner told the coachthat he couldn't serve me in the
restaurant, the coach withoutbatting and I said, Well, if he

(01:09:13):
can't eat in here, none of uswill. And the whole team got up
and left now have that had thathave been handled differently.
That would have affected my lifein a much more bitter way. But
even though it was a hungry ridehome the fact that all of my

(01:09:37):
teammates came to me and puttheir hand on my shoulder and
told me that dog honored it'sworth it. You know, that, that
the guy was wrong to do that.
And then, I guess to this day,and he's probably recognizes
that just how negative there'ssomething like is, but I've,

(01:09:59):
I've always remembered that andhow I failed. And I just try to
imagine how I would have failed.
And I have eaten on the bus andthe rest of the team have eaten
in there.

(01:10:22):
At my 50 year reunion, I went upto that coach, and told him how
much I appreciated him handlingit, as he did. And him and my
classmates all remember thatvery vividly. It was a lesson
for everybody.

Mike Otto (01:10:39):
That's exactly what I was just sitting here thinking
that it was a lesson for anybodythat wanted to learn a lesson
that day, you know, and I thinkthere's good people out there,
you know, and they're all theycome in all, you know, colors
and shapes and sizes. And wehave to keep that in mind. And a
little empathy goes a long way.
And in trying to, as you I'msure your teammates did put

(01:11:02):
themselves in your situation.
Wow, wouldn't that suck, youknow,

Creston Whitaker (01:11:10):
and we're at such an impressionable age, I
was 15 at that time, you know,and, you know, teenager things,
and that's an impressionabletime in a person's life, trying
to find out who you are, and,and I just, I thank God every
day for, for that experience.
And that's what allows me tosimulate the hanging and that

(01:11:35):
type of thing if I can teachsomebody else or show them or
find a way to come together,

Rett Blankenship (01:11:44):
yes. Was this an Illinois or text? Now this
was in

Creston Whitaker (01:11:47):
Illinois.
Yeah. And even though we, like Isaid, we, our school was
integrated and things but Imean, there were issues and you
know, I had some someexperiences that were
unfortunate, but but as far ason the surface, as far as going

(01:12:10):
to school together, and workingtogether and things that it was
an integrated society. But Ididn't go to a lot of the
parties for some of the peoplethat weren't gonna

Byron Temple (01:12:28):
tell him where you're from Otto?

Mike Otto (01:12:31):
Oh, I'm from Indiana.
And, yeah, we've got we had ourissues. Yeah. Well, my
grandfather pointed out to me,and of course, this isn't about
me. So I'm only this I'll justbe brief. But he, he showed me
as a young man, he showed me thetownship charter in which I

(01:12:54):
lived in which blacks were onlyallowed to live on this street
between the railroad tracks onthe east and Thompson road on
the west. And, and when I was inhigh school, I realized that's
exactly the way it was, it wasstill that way in 1976. And

(01:13:15):
that's something that really gotalways got my wheels, churning,
you know, and thinking about thethings of course, leaving
through the 60s and and MLK hisassassination and the civil
rights struggle and, and BloodySunday and whatnot. Anyway, I
don't want to get off trackhere. But I know that it's a

(01:13:36):
significant part of you guys'slives and legacy. So I just felt
like it was something that, youknow, you might want to just
comment on, and that thelistener can walk away from
possibly this podcast has lookedat things in a different person.

Creston Whitaker (01:14:00):
Thank you for that.

Chuck Hampton (01:14:05):
So looking back over your career and the things
you learned, sir, any words ofwisdom you'd like to pass on to
maybe the new guys that are justcoming on the job?

Byron Temple (01:14:16):
Yeah, um, probably the two most things that I
regret. One was, was applyingmyself and studying. And that
was my fault. Because I was, Imean, I had so much fun in 11th.
I didn't care about making youknow, also my second driver. I
was good day, I just had a ball.
Wish I had studied and appliedmyself for promotion. And second
thing was, I would telleverybody, as soon as you come

(01:14:37):
home, as soon as you can max outyour 401k. I mean, because, I
mean, I didn't do it till aboutmy last 15 years, and it was
good. But I've seen some guysthat did it 2025 years, and they
have more than four one they'dhave to drop in and reminisce.
This is one thing I wish youknow, other majors want the
party and didn't care aboutanything but that day Couldn't

(01:14:58):
you just force in that? Thoseare two things that I really
wish I'd have done different.
Yep. But other than that, Imean, it was, it was it was a
great run. I mean, I didn't comein thinking that I was gonna
enjoy it. I came in because thedays off to tell you the truth.
But then I found family. And itelevens man, we I mean, we will.

(01:15:22):
I mean, we will close. We dideverything together. The new
guys now coming on, they don'tdo stuff like we did. If we went
out, like, we're going to goparty, everybody went, we'd have
picnics together. I mean, we dideverything together in the guys
now, the more like the policedepartment where they just come
in and just leave. And that'sone thing I did learn about on

(01:15:42):
the police department. What's sohard about that job is the
public that like police,firemen, and policemen don't
like each other. I mean, youdon't see groups of policemen
just hanging like you willfireman, have you ever noticed
that? You won't say I'm doingthat. And they just, and that's
what I just, I was just blessedthat I did become a fireman. And
I really enjoyed it. I had agreat time and learned a lot in

(01:16:03):
undergrad and a lot of greatpeople.

Chuck Hampton (01:16:05):
That's great crest, any, anything you'd like
to pass along?

Creston Whitaker (01:16:09):
Yes, much, much like what Byron was saying.
My initial reason for joiningthe fire department mainly had
to do with the time off. But itdidn't take long for me to
realize that. That this wasgoing to be one of the best

(01:16:33):
decisions I've ever made. Andnow that I'm retired, I can
confirm that it was the bestdecision that I ever made
regarding my, my career and inmy life.

Unknown (01:16:48):
The

Creston Whitaker (01:16:50):
fraternal relationships and amongst each
other, is just so special. And Ithink that as a, as I did
promote, it gave me anopportunity to, to learn as well

(01:17:12):
as, as to lead. I always wantedto lead and provide leadership
but but one of the things that Ithink is extremely important to
learn, and that I learned isthat rank and rank and
intelligence don't run parallel.
I think that you, you have torealize that just because you're

(01:17:37):
a an officer doesn't mean thatyou can do something that
private can't do. And I thinkthat's is a great lesson for any
environment to realize that youhave protocol and paramilitary
organizations, but rankingintelligence don't run parallel.

(01:18:01):
And but I'm thankful for theexperience and so thankful that
that I was here in Dallas, andthe friendships and even the the
the negative experiences thatturned into positive such as
think I mentioned earlier thatthis Captain never spoke to me

(01:18:23):
for three shifts. The firstthree CSR was there. But around
the fifth shift, when we had afire, he grabbed me and said,
stay with me, son, I got yourcover. And that's that's what
it's all about is that? Well, wehave the Brotherhood or
sisterhood that we have withinthe department is so so very,

(01:18:46):
very special. And I'm thankfulthat I experienced.

Chuck Hampton (01:19:03):
So tell me tell me what happened on October
29 2019. I

Rett Blankenship (01:19:08):
wouldn't I wouldn't like

Chuck Hampton (01:19:11):
it was a bad

Creston Whitaker (01:19:13):
rule in my heart stopped beating three
times. They revived me threetimes. I was going to work out
at the Y over on Hampton rightdown from 40, nines and 40s. And
I went in there and I felt alittle queasy. And one of the

(01:19:34):
trainers it's there, you know,because I go in there I'd go in
or three times a week but hesaid that he said question
you're right. And you know Imumbled something. And next
thing I knew I was sitting inthe ambulance they went ahead
and called the ambulance becauseI had started to pass out or

(01:19:59):
vomited. When I was in theambulance was just in there long
enough conscious to, to say, canyou get my keys out of the
locker and then boom, that wasit. 14 was ambulance that pick
me up, and they transported meto chart Methodist, which was

(01:20:21):
the closest hospital when I gotinto the emergency room a heart
stock. They had CPR and and Isurvived that. They've sent me
to the cath lab cath lab. Andafter 12 hours in the cath lab,

(01:20:45):
my heart stopped again. TheyCPR. Wow, Robbie back. They sent
me to ICU. And by that time, thedoctors had told my wife and
said, Well, we don't think he'sgonna make it. And heart stopped
again. Third time. And thenmysteriously the what came to

(01:21:11):
the doctor's mind. And even evenhe and she the the two doctors
that were there, acknowledgethat it was it was a deal that
state credit for the Lord, youknow, he was he was controlling
this. But he had this thought,why don't we get a bigger pump
heart pump. So they, they didn'thave one in the hospital the

(01:21:37):
size that they needed for me.
And so they sent all for one andBaylor gave them this gigantic
heart pump. You know, it was abiggest drop Methodism ever put
in a patient? And I asked him aswell, why was that? You know, I
mean, I didn't ask him at thetime.

Chuck Hampton (01:21:58):
after the fact, yeah.

Creston Whitaker (01:22:00):
Yeah. And, and he had said, he said, My heights
had a lot to do with him, youknow, being so tall or what have
you, but I'm sure there's tallerpeople than me. They had heart
attack. But anyway, when theyinstalled that, you know, my
heart's been ticking ever since.
And, of course, that has becomemy testimony is the fact that

(01:22:20):
the good Lord just said, Well,I'm not ready for you yet.
Chris. Uh, you know, you gotsome work to do, you know, and
that's what I've been doing. AndI share that story with with
everyone that that I come incontact

Chuck Hampton (01:22:37):
with. That's amazing. How are you feeling
now?

Creston Whitaker (01:22:40):
I feel great.
I've started working out again,you know, I can't do what I used
to do, but able to do to workout. And 40s had a fire
department coordinate with themand things that they had a kind
of reunion for us to cometogether. Which is really nice.
So you got to

Chuck Hampton (01:23:03):
see the paramedics that Oh, yeah,

Creston Whitaker (01:23:04):
yeah. All the the ones that were on the call
and the engine groups.

Byron Temple (01:23:10):
And we did at the time and say your son's late
40s.

Creston Whitaker (01:23:12):
Yeah, yeah, he was at 41 his shift. But he was
at 40s. At that time.

Chuck Hampton (01:23:18):
What a twist, you know, from all those years on
the ambulance, well, yeah.
Created by a fire department.

Creston Whitaker (01:23:25):
Well, that that was the point that I was
making is that I've been on theother side of it for so long.
Yeah. Now I found out what it'slike to be on the receiving end,
and how important it is and andit was from those guys in
handling me like they did. Yeah,because you know, when CPR hit
by the time I got to theemergency room, you know, it?

(01:23:47):
Obviously they prolonged itenough to where I can make it to
that, but

Rett Blankenship (01:23:54):
did they know you were a firefighter at the
time I retired?

Creston Whitaker (01:23:57):
Yeah, they knew when they saw my name and
things because my son was eventhough we have same name, then
they they realize that and wow,I just, you know, just so
thankful for that opportunity.
And no, my wife passed away.

(01:24:23):
Last year, on Mother's Day. Andmy daughter Chelsea is the one
that founder because I had leftleft the house for something and
she was bringing flowers andfood over to for Mother's Day.
Yeah. And my wife was was in thebathtub, you know, unconscious

(01:24:47):
or she passed away. And and mydaughter who is a undercover
officer with the Dallas sheworks the US Marshals

Byron Temple (01:24:57):
basketball player.
Yeah, really. I know. She ispleased. Yeah, okay Miss Bailey
Yeah,

Creston Whitaker (01:25:03):
yeah. And and got her all agree this past
December one last good friendand she told me she said Daddy,
I thought I'd seen it all but Iyou know it in Jen she's been
undergoing therapy and thingsyou know from that and of course
my wife was there when I had theheart attack and things and of

(01:25:26):
course she's a strong Christianwoman anyway so, you know God
was ready for her but but Ithink the key is that you have
to true believer has to acceptGod's will. Yeah, without
understanding, you know, we'renot we're not going to
understand those things untildeal that day that we're there

(01:25:48):
you know, when when when we gohome, and but to be able to
accept things that you don'tunderstand is true, is the true
challenge.

Chuck Hampton (01:26:08):
I'd like to thank Byron and Kristen for joining us
today and sharing their stories.
It was one of the greatprivileges of my career to be
able to work with so many greatmen and women that I really
consider just the salt of theearth. These guys certainly fit
in that category. A couple ofnotes. For those wondering why
there was laughter when Kristenmentioned at the Milwaukee Bucks

(01:26:28):
signed Lew alcindor instead ofhim. Lew alcindor is better
known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Also, I want to stick a Do nottry this at home warning label
on this episode for all youyoung and still working. I refer
specifically to tamper with drugtests, which will get you fired

(01:26:51):
faster than who'd a thunk. Andalso be careful about going
overboard on waterpots. And forPete's sake, don't gamble at the
station. In fact, don't gambleanywhere and you'll be better
off. Apologies for taking aparental tone. But it comes
naturally because for most ofthe years of my life now I have
either been in the role ofparent of children or in the
role of Chief, both of which arefrankly, exactly the same thing.

(01:27:17):
As always, there's moreinformation on the website
firehouse talk.com, includingphotos of today's guest. And if
you'd like to reach out to meabout a story idea, you can send
me a message there or on socialmedia. For those who don't know,
the Dallas firefighters museumis open, check out the museum's
website at Dallas fire museumcalm for current operating hours

(01:27:39):
and other information. We've gotsome great docents. We'll be
happy to give you the grandtour. Until next time, y'all
stay safe out there. That is allkk in 377 fire departments city
of Dallas.