Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 19, 1985, edition 1 / Page 11
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pmny Shands Promot F . - ../.-V ti'i vr - ___ ny jaiyne strong Pest Staff Writer In Ida latest career move, James “Jimmy” Shands has been promot ed to the position of Relief Captain of the Charlotte Fire Department. Call It Captain Shands latest move be cause this progressive firefighter assures, for him, there’s still room ■lor advancement. i ' It was In I960 that Shands Joined the Fire Department as a basic [firefighter. At that time, he recalls, f ant down and made a five-year plan to become a captain. I began attending seminars and schools and taking on extra training to help prepare for the promotion.” In 1982,Shands became a firefighter II. Then within his self-designated schedule he was promoted to Cap tain this year. In his position 31-year-old Shands ?pgrees that as far as with firefight ing andpther emergency situations in his domain, at the Fire Depart ment Headquarter Station No. 1, the buck stops with him. As one of four relief captains, he’s responsible for the firetruck, and personnel. He is the. commander at incidents .he responds to: analyzing the situation and plating decisions. Overall it is a Job Shands proudly describes as “fchallehging, educational and al ways changing.” It has its dangers also. An ordeal at a “hot, intense fire” resulted with the firefighter sustaining 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his face. It was an experience which "tested my in ner self,” Shands says. In rehabilita tion, he remembers, “I didn’t know what my reaction would be at the next fire.” Yet when the time came, Shfands says there was not hesitation for him to go into another burning hduse. This time he had only seconds to remember to protect his face before going in. He says It's his earlier working experiences which taught him to “handle stress, strain and emotional situations in stride.” From the age of 12 until graduating from high school, Shands worked at Alexander Funeral Home. “The late Kelly Alexander was very inspirational to me. He taught me how to deal with people and adversities,” Shands tells. Though; it was his first ambition to be a mortician, Shands - says he became'‘disinterested” by the time be graduated high school. With the knowledge that “blood didn’t bother me,” Shands became an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) in 197B. He worked with the Mocklanbugg County Ambulance Service for two and one half years before it became Medic. Within “■f-~ M-...» ^ Shands became a Senior Crew Chief. During this time.1960, the Fire Department moved into the Emergency Medical field. So Shands, already In the emergency field decided to move into the Fire Department “I knew my training would be an aseet,” he points out. Overcoming his initial anxiety over hieght*, Shands took to the Fire Department with aplomb. He first worked at Tuckaaeegee Station No. 5, one of the busiest stations in the city. “We call it Fort Apache," says Shands. “Anything you learn in training you get a chance to do at Station No. 5.” By 1963 he initated add coordinat ed the CPR program for the Fire Department, through which be cer-. tified approximately 1,000 people * through CPR classes. It was all up hill from there. In 1964,Shands received the Outetan# ing Young Firefighter ot America Award from the local Jayeees. Also that year, he was the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award for out standing contribution beyond the call of duty in the community and the Outstanding Service Award,, both from the American Heart Asso ciation. Shands says his success with the Fire Department comes from "never losing enthusiasm,” two role models, Major Jonas, of the Charlotte Police Department and Chief Everett, of the Park Rangers, (‘‘They saw my ambitions and help ed keep my mind on an even keel”) and of course, his on verve. "I’m a self-motivated person. I’ve always tried to excel. I enjoy meet ing people and giving back to the community what I’ve learned. I’m Human Service* '*«. ’ '/> ‘ i . - •* The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Com munity Relatione Committee will conduct a survey In January to identify and catalogue all local hu man service programs sponsored by churches and other religious or ganizations -■*. A directory of human service programs is scheduled to be pu blished in spring IMS. The direc tory will enable citizens to deter mine the extent of church involve ment in serving local community needs It will also allow the ser vice groups to see what additional services are needed which can be provided by the private sector. v The Community Relations Com mittee is a group of 00 people appointed Jointly by the mayor and chairperson of the County Com mission ■>rz 1 *■ '' 1 11 --- -- A eon ^ JAMES “JIMMY” SHANDS | ~Finda position “challenging ” not going to stop here, I’m going to continue on,” the Captain promises. Shands is taking courses at CPCC for a Fire Protection degree and his next five-year plan is to become a Battalion Chief. Perhaps too modestly, Shands does not consider himself a role model. "My father, who’s a wise man, taught me not to ever think of myself as better than anyone,” he reveals. He describes the elder Shands, 79-years-old, as a “low-key VIP. He’s a 19th District Deputy of -----.—:—; the Masons,” Shands acknowledges. Nevertheless. Shands likes wear ing the many different hats of his profession. He is, additionally, an Emergency Medical Technician Ex aminer and Instructor, a N.C. State Fire Services Instructor, a mem ber of the Interstate Association of Arson Investigators, member of the American Heart Association Work Group and the Delegate Assembly, member of the N.C. Society of Fire ’ Service Instructors and also a Na tional Fire Academy Arson De ---: tection Instructor. “I don’t know if it means any thing, but I was just asked by the chief of operations if I’d like the position of Training Officer of the Training Academy,” Shands smiles. “As the head training officer you’re over 600 and something people,” he .excitedly explains. “He told me to smoke over it.” But there's little doubt that Shands needs anytime to “smoke over" another career advance ment. | B [utter Sugar Sweet potatoes, flour and eggs. For most of us. they're only ingredients. But for Mary McLeod Bethune. who founded Bethune-Cookman coflege by selling sweet potato pies, these common staples were the makings of a great coflege-and _ a great future—for Black people. [ F following Mary Bethune s recipe for success, Black colleges and universities are making the most of the talent, intelligence and determination of thousands of students. In this unique environ ment, students are encouraged to fully express all of their abilities As scholars. Athletes. Musicians. Leaders. At Black colleges, there , __is no ceiling oil achievement; no goal is too far-fetched. [ Ajnd from the graduate classroom to the corporate conference room, that spirit of.resourcefulness and achievement is a lasting benefit to the graduates of Black colleges and those who live and work with them. Is it any wonder that, though they enroll only 16% of Black coflege students, Black colleges produce 37% of all Black college graduates? [Wjhen you re considering colleges, why not consider the ones that gave us Martin Luther King, Jr, Thurgood Marshall and Andrew \bung? If you're out to make something special of your Hfe, Black colleges can realty get you cooking. AMERICA'S BLACK COLLEGES ARE YOU SMART ENOUGH TO GO? ^ , VJr’ ^ f k • j ’t^ ^ a General Foods Corporation salutes Black colleges and universities for their unique role in producing many of f M America* finest citizens and leaders This food for thought is brought to you by the following fine General Foods brands Kool-Aid Post Raisin Bran Crystal Light Sanka Minute Rke Open Ptt Cool Whip General Foods GgdgtAL Country Time Pott Honeycomb Log Cabin Tang Shake n Bake Birds Eye jeS-O International F0005 PostPAbles Maxwell House Brim Stove Top Ronzoni Jefl O Pudding Pops Coffees Mission Air To Honor Kays Gary Kays Gary, former Charlotte Ob server columnist, will be honored for his humanitarian service by Mis sion Air Ministries at a January 11 dinner in the Adam’s Mark Hotel here. "Kays has helped hundreds of organizations, including Mission Air, and thousands of people dur ing a lifetime of service,” said Donnie Simpson, president of Mis sion Air Ministries. "As a tribute to him, we are establishing the Kays Gary Hu manitarian Service Award which will be given annually to someone who, in the tradition of Kays, has given outstanding service to fellow citizens,” Simpson said. “The first award will go to Kays.” When he was writing his daily column, Gary often wrote about Mis sion Air, which he described as “mercy fliers.” Mission Air is a non-profit organization of volun teers, including pilots and mechan ics, who provide benevolent air Kays Gary .Famed columnist transportation for sick and i jured persons and for individua who need to travel to be with si< and injured family members. CURTIS C. REEVES, M.D. Doctor of Ophthalmology Eyes Examined For Glasses, Contact Lenses, Cataract & Laser Surgery NEW Medicare Cataract Surgery Program No overnight stay . No out of pocket cost Curtis C. Reeves, MX) CALL ABOUT OUR FREE Doctor’s Building CATARACT SCREENING Kings Dnve Program Charlotte, N.C. - ■ ■ ■ — ■ —1 HI*wW
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 19, 1985, edition 1
11
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