DECEMBER 2024 MEMBER PROFILE:

BUDDY HARRIS,

Buddy was born in Santa Ana, California and his family moved to Jacksonville when he was 6 months old. Buddy is the youngest of 6 children, he has 4 sisters and 1 brother.

Buddy graduated from Nathan Bedford Forest High School in 1977. He states that the most fun he had in high school was his drafting class.

Buddy met his wife in Maxville and was married there in February1986. Buddy and Nancy have two children and one grandchild.

When we asked what made him want to become a firefighter, Buddy stated that had an occasion to meet several volunteers from Fire Station 31who were high school classmates. Bill Spivey was the station captain and along with Billy Estep, and Donald Kreitzman they convinced Buddy to join the volunteers. He became a volunteer firefighter in 1978.

Buddy then went to the Fire Academy and completed minimum standards in 1980. He later attended Florida Junior College and was awarded two AS degrees. One in welding and the other in Marine Electronics..

Buddy was hired by Jacksonville Fire Department in 1988 and his first assignment was Station 2. Lt. Ronnie Drummond was his officer. After a year at #2 Buddy was transferred to Ladder 1 B with Captain “Fatz” Harden, Jim Webber, and Rempert Arnold. Buddy spent 1 year at #1 he was transferred to his old home Station 31 with Lt. George “The Toad” Sherman. From #31 he then went to #32 with Lt. George Hooten. Then finally to his dream Station 16 at the airport with Lt. Craig Smith. When Captain Craig Smith transferred to station 43, Buddy followed him and they both retired on July 03, 2015.

Buddy and his wife Nancy have a gold 1978 Pontiac Trans Am car. The car has taken a few prizes in different car shows over the years.

Buddy also is the owner of “A Professional DJ Service”. He began DJing at 14 years old and has always loved DJing parties. To make transportin all his DJ equipment around, Buddy purchased a 1990 ambulance in New Jersey in 2002. Buddy restored the ambulance and named it the Jambulance. The Jambulance was retired in 2023. www.aprodj.com

Buddy also purchased a 1974 Peirce Snorkel Truck with an 85 foot boom in Gainesville, Georgia in 2003. The snorkel was used to display an American flag that measured 20ft x 35ft at all firefighter funerals. The flag was displayed at numerous military funerals. The snorkel was retired in 2021.
 

Buddy has always been active in Local 122. He served as a delegate for a number of years and he is always willing to assist in any way possible.

After retiring from JFRD, Buddy went to work at LaCrosse Fire Department in LaCrosse, FLwhere he soon became the Fire Chief and remained there until December 2020.

Buddy was an adjunct instructor at the Fire Academy of the South, specializing in ARFF.

Buddy took a job at the Ortega River Bridge as a bridge tender in 2019 and left that position in November 2021.

Buddy's last job was as an EMT with Century Ambulance Service and finally totally retired in October 2023.

 Many of Buddy's JFRD pictures are stored on www.firemanjax.com

 

	Standing with the snorkel at Jerry Batton's Service
	Talking with Linda Treadwell at Jerry Batton's Service
	Opening the door for family at Jerry Batton's Service