Madison1118web

ServingOUR
Community
Why did you decide to be a firefighter?
I wanted to go into law enforcement,
and did so for a year. But during that
time, I realized there was still something
missing. I started volunteering at a local
fire department in 2006 and knew, from
day one, that’s where my calling was.
The idea of helping people during their
worst moments really appealed to me.
It got in my blood.
How long have you been with the Madison
Fire Department?
Almost 6 years. I started my paid career
with the City of Flowood. When I had
the opportunity to come home, I didn’t
hesitate.
Tell us about your family.
My father has been a custom home
builder for 40 years. My mother devoted
her life to public school education. She
retired a few years ago after teaching for
36 years, 20 of those at Madison Avenue
and Madison Station Elementary.
I have a brother who is almost two years
younger than me. He started mowing
yards after high school and has since
turned his company into a successful
landscaping, irrigation, and dirt-work
company.
What is the toughest thing you have
experienced in your job?
I’ve have seen a good bit in eleven years.
But honestly, anything dealing with the
death of a child is by far the worst thing
I’ve had to deal with.
Share some things you enjoy doing in your
spare time.
I grew up hunting and fishing. It has
gone from something I loved to do as a
kid, to becoming an outlet for relieving
stress from work and a way to spend
time with family and friends.
FIREMAN
Clayton Pepper
MADISON
FIRE DEPARTMENT
What are three things on your bucket list?
I plan one day to go to Europe, rent a
car, and drive from place to place on my
own time and see things that interest me.
Beyond that, I wouldn’t say I have a list.
I’ve been lucky to do some amazing
things, see some amazing places, with
some amazing people. I enjoy the simple
things in life, for the most part.
Who do you admire and why?
I have been influenced by a number of
people in 32 years. But if I had to name
someone, it would have to be my mom
and dad. I watched my dad be diagnosed
with cancer–and beat it–with my mom
helping him through it, even when it
wasn’t the easiest thing to do. And to this
day, I have people, younger and older,
come up to me and tell me my mother
was their teacher, and they never forgot
her. When you think of being a teacher
for 36 years, multiplied by they number
of students each year, that’s a lot of lives
you have helped to steer in the right
direction.
If you could give one piece of advice to a
young person, what would it be?
Be yourself. Do what makes you happy
and never doubt yourself. If you have a
dream, go for it. Don’t go through life
expecting a free handout. Work for what
you want in life. There’s nothing special
about being given something. In the
end, you will gain more satisfaction
from having earned it honestly.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Growing up in the outdoors...and
spending time with and learning from
my grandparents. All of it has shaped
me. I feel bad for kids these days that
don’t have that type of outlet. Instead
they are left to be raised with electronics
and stuff you see on television today.
What is the biggest mistake you think young
people make today?
Times have changed so much in the last
20 years. Young people today don’t have
the advantage of being influenced by
what we called “the Greatest Generation.”
I learned a great deal about life and work
ethic from those people. Technology
should be taken advantage of and not
abused. As long as they understand that
nothing in life is free and life is short,
young people can achieve anything they
want.
What is your favorite thing about the
City of Madison?
I am extremely proud to call Madison
my home and there is nowhere else I
would have rather been raised. I loved
going to get a burger at Sledge’s Grocery,
watching the Christmas parade on
Main Street, and being able to see hay
fields and woods right here in town.
I grew up in a safe community that had
a hometown feel. All of these things are
because of the efforts of the mayor.
When I decided that I wanted to go
into the fire service as my career, there
was no other place I wanted to work
than the city I grew up in.
Hometown madison • 51