Bill Graves

I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school.Four years and one war later (Gulf War), I'd had enough of military life.
I moved to Texas with my family. I helped run two construction companies for seven years.But my heart has always been in Fire Fighting so I went back to school for fire science, while I worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Oklahoma.Long nights and many classes later, here I am a career Firefighter/EMT at Fort Sill Army base in Lawton, Oklahoma.
On my days off I am the Fire Chief for the Snyder Volunteer Fire Department and I am an instructor in fire science for OSU.
I worked on an ambulance as an EMT for four years.Learned a lot of important medical things but saw way too much death.Decided to stick with firefighting instead.
My wife and I have been married for 18 years and we have two daughters one is 15 and the other will turn 13 this year.
I love Snyder,OK it reminds me a lot of Gilbert when I was growing up.It only has 2000 people in it but we like the small town life.I have visited Gilbert several times in the past few years.Not quite the same place I grew up. Too many people.
Spend most of my time busy in the fire service or going to one of my daughters many sporting events.
In 2000 I went to Belize in the jungles right on the Guatemala border to help work on an orphanage with a friend of mine.
In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina I spent a month in New Orleans helping as Firefighter/EMT.
All those years of McCammon's art classes did not go to waste. In Dallas I used them to do Sandblast art.Then I worked in stain glass. Moved to Oklahoma and began welding and metal art.Started wood carving with cedar trees I was given. Used it to paint designs on local fire trucks. So it is not how I pictured using those art classes but it turned into a profitable hobby.
I am sorry I will not be able to attend this years reunion.Got moved to the bases airfield.We have two crash trucks and just became the bases location for our truck company (ladder truck).Being a new station and new guys being hired to fill the station, I can not get back to Gilbert at this time.I am also in the process of adding on to my house which is a major project.

What I remember about school was bad clothing,Big hair, bad hair ,but good music ;which my kids call me crazy for listening too still. Not too crazy because I catch them singing along at times.
I remember everyone looking for the Friday night party spots.Dancing at the Devil House in Tempe.Thinking we could actually dance.