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Shawn Burgess, Lee's Summit 2009 Fire...
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Shawn Burgess, Lee's Summit 2009 Fire Fighter of the Year
February 11, 2010
By Kathy Smith, Tribune/ Society
Fire Specialist/Paramedic Shawn Burgess was selected 2009 Fire Fighter of the Year.
Tribune photo / Kathy Smith
The Lee’s Summit Fire Department has named its 2009 Fire Fighter of the Year. It is none other than all around cool guy Fire Specialist/Paramedic Shawn Burgess. He received this prestigious award because of heroic measures he performed throughout the year and for community outreach. Burgess was surprised by the award. Those of us who know Burgess think that his award was much deserved.
The Lee’s Summit Fire Department has partnered with Lee’s Summit Social Services to help those in need of home repairs, and other projects that husbands had done for their wives in the past. Lee’s Summit is a community rich in a senior culture. More and more folks are choosing to continue to live in their homes long after their spouses pass away. Sometimes they need help around the house. Burgess is just the guy to help out. Not only is he a talented carpenter but he is a mild mannered kind man who is a pleasure to be around.
Burgess also coaches Youth Baseball with his dad. They have done this for many years. I am sure Burgess’ fine qualities rub off on the youth of our city. He was born in Bates County. His father was in the Navy and stationed in Vietnam. The Burgess family eventually ended up in Holt Summit. By 1972 Burgess was attending Lee’s Summit Schools. He told me that his father is his inspiration. Community service was in Burgess’ blood. He decided to become a volunteer Fire fighter. He eventually became a paramedic for the Raymore/Winnebago area. He also worked in Grandview. His captain in Grandview, Steve Dwyer, told him to test for the Lee’s Summit Fire Department. He was hired under Smokey Dyer on a mid December day.
He worked his first Boot Block which is a fundraiser for Social Services and thanks to Dyer’s kindness he was able to get Christmas off. This meant a lot to his wife and children. Burgess has worked with the wonderful Captain Dan Manley for several years. Burgess has been stationed at Station # 4 for 11 years. He works with Tony Willeford, Andy Foster, Steve Hilton and Jim Childress.
I asked Burgess about the various calls he had made in his career. He told me that he has delivered 6 babies and worked 3 big fires. He told me that at one fire it was very cold and icy. The hose was frozen to the ground and he was covered in ice.
He serves in various capacities at his station. He is a strong loving family man with 4 children. The children are Karen, Kyle, Kenton, and Kolin. His very pretty wife Christy is the glue that keeps this busy family together. He has been married to his bride for 20 years.
For this interview I met Burgess at Neighbors. While we were talking Mike and Kay Fore came in for lunch. Kay was wrestling a chair and Mike was calmly talking her through the ordeal. Burgess told me that Mike had been his 9th grade Shop teacher. Mike had taught him a lot as far as his carpentry skills. I first met Shawn when a group of us including, Dan Manley, Mike Wallace and other citizens went to Gulfport to present the City of Gulfport with a $14,000 check from a fundraiser we had. We also cooked some Kansas City Style barbeque thanks to Richard Batliner and his family. It was an amazing experience that none of us will forget.
Burgess is well deserving of his award. I am proud to know Burgess. He is one person that truly makes a difference in our community. He is humble and unassuming. He is a perfect role model for our children. Burgess represents the finest in our community.
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