FIREFIGHTER...

Lamb County EC is a member of Golden Spread EC, a generation and transmission organization with a total of 16 member cooperatives. Golden Spread purchases and supplies power to Lamb County EC for its member-consumers and follows one of the seven Cooperative Principles, Concern for Community. “At Golden Spread EC, taking care of our members’ communities takes priority. We believe there are few organizations out there that exemplify this as well as your volunteer fire departments (VFD),” said Jennifer Bobbitt, chairperson of the CIC committee. “The men and women who participate in the VFDs across our 16 member service territories keep our communities safe and protected.”

The Golden Spread Board of Directors entrusts to the CIC an annual budget, which is used to benefit the territories served by its 16 members. Activities and organizations are selected by the CIC and supported by Golden Spread employees. Additionally, giving back to local communities with a donation of $7,200 to 16 VFDs.

It is an honor and a privilege, that through the partnership between Golden Spread EC’s Community Involvement Committee (CIC) and Lamb County EC, the Amherst VFD was selected from within Lamb County EC’s service area, as the 2023 recipient.

A presentation was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the Gene Campbell Fire Station in Amherst, Texas. Blake Moore, LCEC General Manager/CEO welcomed those attending. Kevin Humphreys, LCEC, and GSEC Board of Director presented a check in the amount of $450.00 to Fire Chief, Rd Gass. Guests in attendance were Lamb County EC: Kathy Shipp, Manager of Admin Services, Lupe Marquez, Admin Coordinator; City of Amherst: Mickey Brantley, Mayor Pro Tem; Rosa Angel, City Secretary; Juanita Garza, billing specialist and Bob Mills, Retired VFD Chief.

The Amherst VFD was organized in 1925. Gene Campbell was appointed the first Fire Chief in 1954. He was followed by Gene’s son-in-law, Bob Mills in 1974, and in 2019, by current Chief Rd Gass. Fire phones were used to dispatch by Bob Mills and the assistant chief, Larry Edwards. Amherst VFD was one of the first in the county to purchase a paging system around 1970. One was located at the Amherst City Hall, and the second was possibly located at the Littlefield police department for afterhours dispatch.

In the 1970’s to the early 1980’s, the fire station was located where city hall is today. In the late 1980’s the VFD acquired the dry cleaner store. It was converted into a second fire station building to house the extra VFD trucks. In 1992, the old movie theater, located next door to city hall, was purchased from the Coop Gin. Countless hours of labor by fire department volunteers converted the theater into the current Gene Campbell Fire Station. It was completed in 1993.

Currently, there are fifteen volunteer firefighters, who in between their jobs and family time, volunteer their service and time to the Amherst VFD. Amherst is one of two communities in Lamb County, Texas, that operate their VFD and EMS jointly. The other communities operate their VFD and EMS services as two separate entities. The Amherst VFD and EMS equipment and operations are funded completely through grants and donations. When there is an opportunity, fundraisers are held.

On behalf of the board of directors, employees and members at Golden Spread EC, and Lamb County EC, thank you to the Amherst VFD for all that you do to keep our communities safe.

For more information about Golden Spread EC and its community efforts, visit www.gsec.coop/Member/Community.