Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 25, 1999, edition 1 / Page 42
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o J .;1{ RECOGNIZES <1 John Gist ^Mc Officer, o/f/ie Tear IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE | ' ' . ?.- *' !??.*." v t ? ? ??-'* a *" ' ? ..*.. ' ^ " * In July, John Gist became Win ston-Salem's third African American fire chief. "I don't feel the focus will be <?n me because I am African Ameri- ? i ' ' can," he says. "I do feel that they will be watching because I am a native." * Gist attended East Forsyth High School and Winston-Salem State University. He holds a B.S. degree in health and physical edu cation and earned a certificate in municipal administration from the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He also graduated from the executive officer's pro gram at the National Fire Acade ' my. . - He joined the fire department in i 1977 and rose through the ranks. His previous job titles trace his ascent: fire fighter, engineer, cap- < tain, administrative assistant, bat- ( talion chief, district fire chief, < deputy fire chief, and, finally, fire ! chief. i He always knew that he wanted ] to be fire chief in some city; he just i wasn't certain it would be in his hometown. < ? Throughout his career, Gist has not only shown leadership but also 1 bravery. He received a commenda- 1 tion for rescuing a citizen from a burning building. He also became s the youngest chief officer in the s . 0 ' ? t local department and one of the youngest in the state. He also served on the Oral Review Board for selection of Winston-Salem's public safety officers. His priorities as chief include automation, manpower, and keep ing pace with population growth. New techology, he says, will not only help fire fighters respond more efficiently and effectively but will allow the department to com- i municate with the community via X the Internet. These initiatives will M carry the department into the 21st century. ? Over the years, Gist has gained a reputation for introducing inno^ vat^ions. He redesigned the' depart ment's physical agility test and developed an identification system H to facilitate rapid recognition of H vehicles. He also developed the fire. H officer's training curriculum, the V departments customer service m questionnaire, the Vacant Building 1 Security Program, and the depart- 1 tnent's TEAM concept (Teams of Employees Assisting Manage nent). Gist is a Mason and a member if Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He welcomes the challenge of leading the 266-person Fire Department. "People who have visions of iuccess put them in place early," ays Gist. "This was my vision." The community you -V9H serve salutes you
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Feb. 25, 1999, edition 1
42
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