Hard work the driving force

Deputy Chief retires from Fire Department

The decision to walk away from 34 years of service to the citizens in and around Benton County was not one former Siloam Springs Fire Department Deputy Chief Travis White took lightly. After volunteering at the Highfill Fire Department for 10 years and spending 24 years at the Siloam Springs Fire Department, it started to feel more like stepping away from family than it did work.

But when that family sat with Travis through his heart attack recovery in the Siloam Springs emergency room, and supported him through the passing of both of his parents this last year, Travis began to question whether the physical and mental demands of the job were ones he wanted to greet every morning at 7 a.m. when his alternatives were travel with his wife, Debbie, time with grandchildren and beloved work outside in a field or other property.

“Sometimes it’s time for a change,” Debbie said.

Time for a change is something Travis knows all too well. His grandfather and father both ran dairy farms and he ultimately inherited the family business and settled down in Highfill. When Travis joined the Highfill Volunteer Fire Department in 1985, his father came to not appreciate “the red thing on his hip,” because when it signaled someone needed assistance, Travis was nowhere to be found.

“It’s not just about fighting fire or helping people with health issues,” Travis said. “I like helping people where I can.”

His wife joined him, his dairy farm, vineyard and chicken farm in 1985, familiar with the idea hard work was something instilled in Travis as a young child.

The interest Travis had taken in his fire service eventually led to him to traveling to Missouri Southern State University three times a week for a year to obtain his paramedic license.

Debbie, thinking back to the farm and being at home with two kids while he was away, can only say that his hard work manifests who Travis is as a person.

“He’s just about the hardest working person I know,” she said. “He just doesn’t stop. He doesn’t ever give up.”

Travis’ friends say the same thing about his loyalty, faithfulness and friendship.

Siloam Springs Emergency Medical Director Brent Ford has worked with Travis for almost 20 years and the two instantly found a friend. They served as a paramedic team on ambulances for the emergency, non-emergency transfer service Pulse, and eventually served as officers together at the SSFD before being promoted to administrators.

Ford is now a paraplegic after suffering a broken spine in a 2009 four-wheeler accident. The injury took him to Colorado for rehabilitation.

“At the time we were best of friends,” Ford began. “Even on and off the job we were really good friends. He flew to Colorado to come see me when I was in rehab up there. He was

Sierra Bush/Herald-Leader Former Siloam Springs Fire Department Deputy Chief Travis White poses on a street of the training facility being constructed behind Siloam Springs Fire Station One, located at 1450 Cheri Whitlock Drive, which will be named for him in honor of his passion and work in equipment and training updates within the department. The announcement was made during White’s retirement party May 17.

Sierra Bush/Herald-Leader From left to right: Siloam Springs Fire Department EMS Director Brent Ford, Deputy Chief John Vanatta, Fire Marshal Dustin Kindell, former Deputy Chief Travis White and Chief Jeremy Criner pose around a memorial honoring White’s 24 years of service to the SSFD during his retirement party May 17.