Everyday Heroes 2022

Houston County 

Everyday 

Heroes 

2022 

A Special Publication of The Houston Home Journal 

FREE!

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CONTENTS 

2022 

PUBLISHED BY 

Houston Publications, Inc. 

1210 Washington Street 

P.O. Box 1910 

Perry, GA 31069 

Phone: 478-987-1823 

www.hhjonline.com 

Houston Home Journal 

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Advertising 

ADVERTISING MANAGER 

Lori Kovarovic lorik@hhjnews.com 

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CENTERVILLE 

4-5 

FLINT ENERGIES 

6 

911 CENTER 

8 

GEORGIA STATE PATROL 

10 

HOUSTON COUNTY 

12-18 

PERRY 

20-22 

WARNER ROBINS 

24-26 

Staff Writers 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Will Oliver woliver@hhjnews.com 

Tyler Meister tylerm@hhjnews.com 

Ashton Akins aakins@hhjnews.com 

Brieanna Romero bromero@hhjnews.com 

Creative 

ADVERTISING DESIGN 

Kayley Trischan 

GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Dave Kincaid 

9-1-1 

Houston County, 2022 

Everyday Heroes 

3

Centerville Fire 

Department 

Travis Buchanan 

By: Brieanna Romero 

HHJ Staff Writer 

When faced with a major life decision, some people will 

look for a divine sign on what to do. But for Travis Buchanan, 

his career choice was based on a literal sign. He saw signs 

advertising job openings for the Centerville Fire Department 

and decided to take the plunge. 

He has been working for the fire department for almost 

two years. When he is not working, he enjoys fishing and 

spending time with his girlfriend, his family and his dog. 

On the job, he wants to be the best version of himself and 

wants to take that energy and use it to help the community. 

When he comes to work, the experience is still surreal. 

“To this day, I come in every shift, I see my gear, I put it out 

for my shift to begin and I take that breath in because it’s still 

disbelief to me that I’m here — that I made it here after all the 

work it took to get here,” Buchanan said. 

The work has not been easy. He has both firefighting 

and medical training, and then he went through hazardous 

material training, obstacle courses and physical training. He 

turned his training into a friendly bet with his family, and it 

pushed him to complete it. 

His family is the reason he has a heart for community 

service. After his grandfather got sick, he knew it was where 

he was meant to be. 

As a firefighter, he is on the front lines whenever a fire, 

medical emergency call, or hazardous material call breaks out. 

When he is not fighting fires, he is back at the station prepping 

for the next call, taking care of station and truck maintenance 

and socializing with his coworkers. 

His greatest achievement, he says, is the job as a whole 

and making it this far in the fire department. 

“I’ve learned a lot from the guys, a lot from everybody, on 

a personal level as well as an ‘at-work’ level, so I take all the 

experiences into one,” Buchanan said. 

He says communicating with and helping the 

community is his favorite part of being a firefighter, 

helping them out through their tough times. He extends 

that communication to his coworkers, citing his work 

family’s dynamic as another enjoyable part of the job. Since 

his coworkers have mentored him in the past, he wants to 

pay it forward to other firefighters at the station, with the 

ambition to take on more of a supervisory role at the fire 

department. 

“I’m hoping that one day I can pass on the knowledge 

that I’ve learned to other people and help them out the way 

that they have helped me out,” he said. 

4 Everyday Heroes Houston County, 2022

Centerville Police 

Department 

Terry Wright 



Police officers get to work with a variety of people, 

and Animal Control is no exception — with the bonus 

of working with four-legged friends. Centerville Police 

Department’s recommendation for Everyday Heroes was 

the “Wright” choice, nominating Animal Control Officer 

Terry Wright. 

The youngest of 13 children, Wright was raised in 

Warner Robins and graduated from Northside High School. 

He has one child of his own, a 33-year-old daughter. When 

he is not working at the Centerville Police Department, he 

is working on his side business. He owns a pressure washing 

company and has been in that role for over 29 years. 

Wright started working 

for Centerville PD in 1993 

as an animal control officer 

and has stayed there ever 

since. He is also on the 

school crossing team for 

Centerville Elementary 

School, making sure kids 

reach home safely. He 

described his job as “a little 

bit of everything.” 

As an award-winning 

animal control officer, his 

main priority is safety, 

making sure rescue animals are safely transported to the 

appropriate shelter, with the eventual goal of reuniting them 

with their owners or finding them a forever home if they do 

not have one. 

He cites this as his main motivation for working with 

Animal Control and says helping the community is his favorite 

part of the job. 

“I enjoy re-homing an animal and getting it back safely 

to its owner and showing up to work being able to serve and 

protect here in Centerville,” Wright said. 

He sees heartbreaking situations while on the job but 

knows deep down the animals he helps would find a better 

place. 

“Sometimes you’ll find people that have all these animals, 

knowing well that they couldn’t take care of them in the 

beginning, and then they seek help for someone to come in 

and rescue them,” Wright said. “That’s why it’s good to have 

rescues out there to find homes for.” 

For Wright, knowing that he can reunite animals 

with owners that treat their pets with care makes it all 

worthwhile. 

“Knowing that there is going to be someone out there 

that cares about the animals and making sure that they’re 

safe, and out of the hands of harm’s way: someone having 

a pet that doesn’t deserve it,” he said. “It needs to be in the 

hands of someone who cares about them.” 



5

Flint Energies 

Shane Malcom 

By: Will Oliver 

HHJ Managing Editor 

Shane Malcom of Flint Energies, a Warner Robins native 

now living in Byron, began his journey in electric work when a 

friend at Pike Electric asked if he needed a job. 

After working with Pike for 10 years and traveling to 14 

different states, Malcom said the constant traveling caused 

to him to request working closer to home in Houston County 

with Flint. 

“I’m a crew leader,” Malcom said. “When I started here, I 

was what you call a floater — it’s like a journeyman — and 

they just call it ‘the floater’ because he just floats around and 

fills in.” 

Some of his crew leader duties include overseeing a fourperson 

crew, and it can sometimes involve more people and 

sometimes less. He and his crew are “on call” to handle the 

aftermath of situations like the recent storms. 

“Over there on [State Route] 247, that tornado that hit 

right there and tore 

those transmission 

structures down — 

it tore up a bunch 

of our poles, too,” 

he said. “We were 

quite busy that 

week, but we’re 

on call all the 

time. So any time 

there’s a storm — it 

doesn’t have to be 

a tornado; it could 

be a thunderstorm, 

and it’s always 

tearing something 

up — somebody’s 

always on call to go out and get the power back on.” 

He said the industry he works in is continuously evolving, 

and teaching new crew members is one of his favorite parts of 

his job. He also loves coming to work day after day. 

“It’s changed; it’s evolved over the years,” Malcom said. 

“It’s been 27 years since I’ve been in this type of work, and 

it’s changed — and I just turned 50 in March — so now, since 

I’m a crew leader, it’s more of when the guys come and crosstrain 

and training them up and watching them learn the job 

and grow as a lineman — more of the teaching side of it I 

guess you’d say, instead of the learning now that I’m older.” 

A healthy path to retirement at some point is one of his 

main aspirations. His greatest achievement is his family, he 

said. 

He also laughed while sharing a couple of interesting 

stories. 

“We were at work at a luncheon, and a coworker started 

choking,” he said. “So, I’ve never done anything like this 

before, but I started doing the Heimlich maneuver on him. 

“Anyways, it worked out. I don’t know why I did that, 

but for some reason, I don’t know if it’s just this type of 

work or the type of person I am, but I was just trying to be 

helpful. I was sitting beside him, so that might have helped, 

too.” 

Malcom has been married to his wife, Susan, for almost 

18 years. Together, they have two boys: Brantly and Briggs. He 

also has a stepson, Hunter, who is 27 years old. 


A SpecialThanks of 

Gratitude and Appreciation 

Shaw Blackmon 

State Representative 

House District 146 

7

911 Center 

Laureen Atanacio 



The voice you hear on the line when you call 911 for help 

is normally cool, calm and collected. But when that voice is not 

on the phone, it just may be singing. That would be the case at 

least for Laureen Atanacio. 

Before living here, she lived on the other side of the 

country in Hawaii, moving stateside in 1999. She started 

working at Houston County 911 in 2014 as a call taker and then 

moved on to working as a dispatcher. 

Dispatchers take the call, input details into a dispatching 

system and then send the appropriate help to wherever it is 

needed. 

Atanacio had always worked in a role geared towards 

community service. Before becoming a call taker, she worked 

with the school system. 

She has two children and two grandchildren. When her 

youngest daughter graduated, Atanacio decided it was time 

for something new and more permanent, motivating her to 

apply for the 911 office. 

In addition to the Everyday Heroes nomination, she also 

won the award for 2021’s 911 Communications Officer of the 

Year. To her, knowing that she is helping others and answering 

the need of the community is the greatest achievement she can 

ask for — and she does it with a smile on her face. 

“A lot of people go through their life always wanting to know 

if you’ve made a difference in the world around you and your 

community, and I can answer that: emphatically yes,” she said. 

Recently, she took on the effort of dispatching fire crews 

after the thunderstorms that blew through Middle Georgia on 

April 5, and her coworker said she handled the influx of phone 

calls like a pro. 

“She is one of the reasons why we have such great people 

here; she does her best here,” Lieutenant Veronica Edens, an 

operations coordinator with Houston County 911 said about 

Atanacio. 

Atanacio feels the same way about her coworkers — like 

they can depend on each other. Described as “the mom of 

the family,” she hopes to be someone that her coworkers can 

count on. 

“I could not do this job without the people that I work 

with,” she said. 

If she is not on the phone or helping bring the team 

together, she is most likely singing. 

What’s her go-to karaoke song? 

“It really depends,” she said, “My brain is constantly on 

‘scan.’ It could be anything from a Disney song, to a country 

song, a pop song, a rock song, a jingle from a radio ad or a 

TV ad.” 


To all our First Responders 

who give selflessly 

day after day - 

THANK YOU 

HOUSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPRECIATES YOU! 

9

GEORGIA STATE PATROL 

Jazzaman Burgess 

By: Ashton A. Akins 


TFC Jazzaman Burgess is a state trooper with the 

Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Post 15 in Perry. His love for law 

enforcement came from his hometown of Myrtle Beach, 

South Carolina. 

“I come from a family of law enforcement and state 

troopers,” Burgess said. “Early on, I was fortunate to work with 

various law enforcement agencies from small city agencies to 

the U.S. Marshals. I love what I do.” 

After graduating from Johnsonville High School, Burgess 

attended one of the most prestigious universities in America. 

Studying criminal justice, he received his bachelor’s degree 

from the illustrious Fort Valley State University. As a fall 2016 

graduate from the local HBCU, Burgess began working at the 

Houston County Detention Center. 

“Touching someone creating an impact is my greatest 

achievement,” Burgess said. 

Not dwelling on personal accolades, TFC Jazzaman 

Burgess was a recipient of the M.A.A.D. award. The M.A.A.D 

(Mothers Against Drunk Driving) award is awarded by the 

Governors’ Office of Highway Safety, given to qualified state 

officers who have 

made DUI arrests in 

the past calendar 

year. 

Alongside being 

a dedicated trooper 

of the Peach State, 

Burgess has strong 

faith and enjoys 

attending church. 

“I am churchgoing, 

and my faith 

motivates me,’ he 

said. “Also, a memory 

from my childhood 

keeps me going, as 

well. 

“As a child, my 

mother picked up someone from the side of the road. She 

made this person a part of our family, watching them grow. 

This memory reminds me of my purpose.” 

After his employment at the Houston County Detention 

Center, Burgess became a trooper for the beloved Georgia 

State Patrol in 2018. Now four years later, TFC Burgess has 

become a vocal figure and great leader. 

“TFC Burgess is a leader among his peers at Perry Post 15,” 

says his supervisor SFC Derrick L. Lumsden #512. “He takes 

great pride in his work and makes a positive difference in the 

communities he serves. TFC Burgess understands he has an 

important job to accomplish and puts forth 100% effort every 

time he puts on the uniform and patrols the highways of this 

state.” 

Burgess gives back to his alma mater, Fort Valley State, by 

speaking to the students and those of the university community. 

TFC Jazzaman Burgess left the following quote to those who 

are aspiring students: “I try to inspire and give back where I 

can. We are all seeds, and all seeds need nutrients, water and 

sunlight to grow.” 


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11


Fire Department 

Firefighter Cody Parker 

By: Tyler Meister 


Firefighter Cody Parker has been working with the 

Houston County Fire Department for five years. He describes it 

as “the best job in the world.” 

Parker is from Peach County. When he is not fighting fires 

or saving lives, he prefers to be hunting, fishing, watching 

college football or baseball. 

But proof of Parker’s work, his love for the job, shows in his 

commitment. In his eight years as a fireman, Parker has already 

completed several trainings and certifications, from his most 

baseline classes to Hazmat Tech training. 

He picks up extra shifts and even works to help train 

others when possible. His achievements were made tangible 

when he received the Firefighter of the Year award. 

Parker did not speak much of himself or his own 

achievements. Instead, on multiple occasions, Parker said 

that he loves what he does. He was almost destined to do it. 

12 Everyday Heroes Houston County, 2022 

Having a father that worked 

in the Peach County Fire 

Department, Parker has 

been wanting to fight fires 

since he was a child — this 

job is a dream realized. 

“My dad was a firemen, 

I looked up to him growing 

up,” Parker said. “I thought 

it was a really cool job, so 

I got into it. I like going 

out and trying to make a 

difference every day. We 

help the people we can, we 

do something meaningful, 

meet new people and try to help however we can.” 

Houston County Fire Chief Chris Stoner spoke highly of 

Parker and his work. 

“Parker is an asset to the department and the community,” 

Stoner said. “He works well with all of his cohorts, generally 

places himself last and looks out for everybody else first. He’s 

come a very long way with his training and knowledge, and 

strives to give that to others as well, to help motivate and 

improve the fire service in general for Houston County.” 

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13

A legacy in 

law enforcement: 

The Holland 

Family 

By: Brieanna Romero, Tyler Meister, and Will Oliver 

Captain Jon Holland is revered in the Houston County 

Sheriff’s Office for having an exceptional memory. He can recall 

tag numbers from weeks ago and specific facts on 30-yearold 

cases, but the impact he and his family have made on the 

community is truly unforgettable. 

A lifelong resident of Houston County, Jon graduated from 

Warner Robins High School in 1981, received his associate’s 

degree in wildlife technology in 1983 and received his bachelor’s 

degree in criminal justice from Fort Valley State University in 1990. 

He always knew he would end up working in law enforcement. 

He had always had a huge interest and respect for them in his 

youth and seeing their work in the community impressed him. 

Jon followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who worked 

at the Bibb County 

Sheriff’s Office around 

the late 1920’s. Jon’s 

father also had a career 

in law enforcement, 

working as a bailiff for 

the Houston County 

State Court from 1990 to 

2008. 

Jon started his law 

enforcement career in 

March of 1984, working 

with the Houston County 

Sheriff’s Office from the 

beginning. He started 

work as a patrol deputy. 

In 1986, he 

worked for the 

Georgia Department 

of Corrections in their 

Probation Division, and then came back five years later to the 

sheriff’s office as a sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division. 

From there, he worked his way up the ranks, becoming a lieutenant, 

and then captain and chief investigator. 

He enjoys helping people, both as a supervisor for the 

division, as well as in the community. He recalled one incident 

25 years ago where he comforted a man who climbed the water 

tower behind Galleria Mall. 

“He only wanted to talk to me,” Jon said. “As I arrived on scene, 

I quickly determined that I would not be climbing up there with 

him. I was able to eventually talk him into climbing down on his 

14 Everyday Heroes Houston County, 2022 

Jon Holland in 1984 

Madison, Jon & Logan Holland 

own. I was grateful for that because I am not a fan of high places.” 

His greatest achievement is his family. Jon has been happily 

married to his wife, Cathy, for 38 years and raised two sons: Logan 

and Madison. 

He said his favorite part of the job is helping others and 

facing different challenges every day. He also enjoys passing 

on his experience to a younger generation of investigators and 

deputies, including his two sons. 

Logan Holland is the oldest son in this family of law 

enforcement. 

Logan grew up in 

Houston County, and 

graduated from Warner 

Robins High School in 

2005 — then graduated 

from Macon State College 

in 2008 with a bachelor’s 

degree in public service. 

Logan and his wife have 

been married for nearly 

13 years, and they have a 

13-year-old son. 

Logan began 

his career in law 

enforcement in 

September of 2008 with 

the Houston County 

Sheriff’s Office. 14 years 

later, he now works 

as a GBI Agent for the office in Perry and is working towards 

becoming a criminal profiler. 

Logan said that he has known he wanted to be in law 

enforcement since his late-teen years and has had the opportunity 

to work closely with his brother on a number of occasions, also 

working in tandem with his father. 

“My brother and I have had successful careers in law 

enforcement, and I think a lot of that comes from seeing our dad 

and how he has built his career,” Logan said. “With the GBI, we 

interact with local agencies throughout the state, other state 

officers or federal agents.

Jon Holland’s Grandpa 

Logan & Madison 

Logan, Madison & Jon 

“My dad is pretty well known throughout the state in law 

enforcement, so he definitely paved the way for us. It’s nice to carry 

that into the future and hopefully continue to make an impact.” 

And although Logan does recognize the work of his father, 

his reasons for service are his own. 

“I think there’s different reasons, and everyone has their 

own,” Logan said. “Specifically, I like working death investigations. 

When you’re working a death case, you have to be the voice of 

that victim because they can’t speak for themselves anymore. 

“Being able to give answers to a family and trying to help 

them through that grieving process is definitely rewarding. I 

enjoy my job. I enjoy the relationships I’ve built throughout the 

state with different law enforcement officers and different folks 

I’ve met working my cases.” 

Finally, although he no longer serves in the field of law 

enforcement, Logan’s brother Madison is part of this family 

tradition, as well. 

Madison was born and raised in Warner Robins and attended 

Houston County schools. After graduating from Warner Robins 

High School in 2007, he went to study history at Georgia Southern 

University. 

“So I went to Georgia Southern to get my bachelor’s in history 

with the goal of becoming a teacher — and really at that time, 

what I really wanted to do was blaze my own trail,” Madison said. 

“At that time, my brother and my dad were both working at the 

sheriff’s office, so at that phase of my life, I just wanted to do 

something different.” 

The post-graduation job market was slim, and after a few 

interviews and no offers from some of the local schools, Madison 

decided to pursue employment with the sheriff’s office himself. 

He began work at the Detention Center in 2011. 

The initial work at the Detention Center offered an 

opportunity for a flexible schedule and some extra time to delve 

into a side project. 

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a desire or a 

goal to be in business,” he explained. “Now, that got derailed a 

little bit because although my original intention wasn’t to get into 

law enforcement, I ended up liking it; even working at the jail — it 

was something I enjoyed doing. 

“My schedule at the time, I was on shift work; so I would work 12 

hours for a few days, and then I would have a few days off, so [I would 

have] more time to do something else on the side if I wanted to.” 

He and his wife, Jennifer, had just bought a house a few 

months prior, and Madison had a good experience with the 

realtor that closed the deal for them. From there, he got to work 

studying the craft in hopes of working at her organization. 

“At that time, I registered for an online class — that really is 

what fit my schedule best — and I was working night shift at the 

time at the Detention Center with the sheriff’s office,” he said. “So, 

at night when things were quiet and everybody was asleep, I would 

use that time to study for my real estate [license]. And then I would 

get off in the morning, and I would go home and do some of my 

online testing until I was able to finish the course.” 

He eventually went on to work as a special agent at the Perry 

field office with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. 

“I worked at the Detention Center for a few years, then got 

mandated and worked in Patrol for a few years before I left the 

Sheriff’s Office and went to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations 

[GBI] in 2016,” Madison said. 

At one point, his brother, Logan, interned with the GBI and 

ended up leaving the sheriff’s office and going to work with them 

a few years before Madison made the switch in agencies. They 

shared office space and their desks were located near each other 

there at the field office. 

“Immediately, we worked closely together, which was great,” 

he added. “It wasn’t something that was completely new to us 

because we worked at the sheriff’s office together and grew up 

around the dinner table listening to stories.” 

Madison said the communication skills that transferred from 

his law enforcement experience into his real estate business these 

days is something he is thankful for since it can offer a better 

experience for his clients. 

In his position as owner and broker with Landmark Realty 

in Perry, he has assisted first responders and law enforcement 

officers countywide in their efforts of buying or selling a home. 

Their shared experiences and understanding make for a common 

bond during the buying or selling process, he explained. 

Madison said he finds himself hunting and golfing a good bit 

on his off days, along with spending time with Jennifer and their 

son, Hank. The Hollands also have another boy on the way, as well. 



15


Sheriff’s Office 

SGt. Matthew Moulton 



Moulton at WRPD SWAT 

Training (2001) 

Moulton with 

daughter, Matti (2014) 

Moulton at MPA Graduation 

with Mayor Walker (May 2008) 

Moulton with former 

First Lady Sandra Deal and 

Sheriff Talton (2016) 

Sergeant Matthew Moulton has known since he was a 

child that he wanted to work in law enforcement. He grew up 

around well-known officers such as former Bibb County Sheriff 

Jerry Modena, retired Officer Harry Colbert and DEA Taskforce 

Officer Jimmy Swift. His profession of choice was solidified 

when he went on a ride-along in high school with Officer 

Richard Crooms. 

After graduating high school, Moulton continued his 

education at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, 

Missouri. While attending school there, he worked with the 

campus police. 

Moulton moved back home in 1999 and took a job 

with the Warner Robins Police Department, working 

closely with current Perry Police Chief Steve Lynn and the 

current Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner; the two 

inspired Moulton to pursue his master’s degree in public 

administration. 

After spending several years with WRPD, Moulton moved 

on to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth 

and taught a Basic Mandate Course. 

It was there that he was given the opportunity to work 

with the Houston County Sheriff’s Department, under the 

leadership of Sheriff Cullen Talton and Chief Billy Rape, 

where he works today. Moulton has been in the field of law 

enforcement for 27 years, and today, works as a narcotics 

investigator. 

Aside from his career, Moulton has been married for 

19 years, and he and his wife, Catherine, have a 13-year-old 

daughter. Moulton describes his family as his rock. 

A running theme, as Moulton tells his story, is his reference 

to other officers, the superiors and peers who influenced him 

or guided him to grow. 

“The people that I have learned from throughout my 

entire career have put me where I’m at,” Moulton said. 

From the time he started at the College of the Ozarks 

to now, working with Sheriff Talton, Chief Rape and Captain 

John Holland, he has learned valuable lessons at each 

juncture he could. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve always gone back to one 

Bible verse,” Moulton said. “Luke 12:48 says ‘to whom much 

is given, much is required.’ Looking at the opportunities I’ve 

been given and the resources I’ve been given to do my job, a 

lot is expected of me. I strive every day not to disappoint the 

Sheriff and Chief Rape.” 


Houston Medical EMS 

Jordan Clements 



When the sun rises, many of us will wake up, grab a cup of 

coffee, take in the morning news and make the commute to work. 

For Jordan Clements, however, he might be headed home after a 

12-hour overnight shift. 

As an emergency medical tech, Clements is no stranger to 

some strange working hours, but his passion for helping others 

makes it all worthwhile. March 1, 2022, marked the first year that 

Clements has been on the team, and he says that making it this far 

is an achievement in and of itself. 

He admits that it is hard to explain 

exactly what he does because every day 

is a little bit different, but to put it into 

simplest terms, he and a supervising 

technician work on a variety of tasks 

related to the upkeep of emergency 

vehicles and assisting patients that may 

need a ride to Houston Medical Center 

when the time comes. 

He is very connected to the 

hospital. Clements was born there, 

grew up across the street and went to 

school at Northside High School. After 

high school, he joined the Army and 

was stationed in Hawaii. He also spent 

15 months serving in Iraq and 1 year in 

Afghanistan. 

Before he was a technician, he 

worked a desk job but was miserable. 

“It wasn’t for me,” he admitted. “But 

I did it anyways because I had a family 

to support.” 

He and his wife have four children 

together. May of this year marks his 13th 

anniversary. His wife is also connected 

to the medical field. 

After she went through nursing 

school, she asked him if he would like to 

go back to school, knowing that he was 

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not where he wanted to be. He recalled the tables turning as a bit 

strange. 

“For the past ten years I had been the one working,” he said. 

He wanted to study something fast-paced, and he knew he 

could work well under pressure, so that led to his career as an EMT. 

Clements is studying to be a paramedic, and while on the job, he 

is learning something new every day. 

“This job is consistently learning; it’s always upgrading,” 

Clements said. “You don’t get your education from school and 

then just stop there. You have to continuously study and research.” 

Why did he choose an EMT career? For Clements, it boils 

down to helping the community. 

“I love helping people,” he said. “I like feeling like I’m making 

a difference.” 

#RobinsStrong 



17

Houston Healthcare 

Respiratory Unit 

Stephen Horne 

By: Will Oliver 


Registered Respiratory Therapist Stephen Horne of 

Houston Healthcare said his unit works with all sorts of 

patients “from to the womb to the tomb.” 

“Basically, we take care of patients sometimes right 

from the moment they’re born — like I just had [to] — all 

the way up to the moment they can pass,” Horne said. “We 

take care of all patients broad, any age and really any kind 

of respiratory disorders — and sometimes they’re not even 

respiratory, but we still have a role in what we do with these 

patients.” 

Maintaining the well being of his patients is what drives 

him to come to work and continue pushing for success. 

“Honestly, I love the patient care aspect — I really do,” 

Horne said. “I like getting to know my patients and doing 

what’s best to see them actually leave the hospital and be with 

their family and other aspects. To me, that’s the greatest part 

of the role, is taking care of the patient and doing what’s best 

for them and being that patient advocate.” 

There are many different facets to his department’s 

work, but Horne highlighted a couple of his favorites. 

“Procedure wise, I love to intubate, I love to put in 

A-lines — but honestly, just doing what’s right for the 

patient and preventing them from having to do things like 

go on the ventilator and being intubated,” Horne said. “But 

just knowing you’re doing what’s right for the patient and 

doing what’s right for the patient’s family. Taking care of 

them is what we’re here for, so that’s what brings me the 

greatest joy honestly.” 

For Horne, his position is all about serving the public. 

“Personally, I feel like I have that ‘servant’s heart’,” he said. 

“I really just get [the] satisfaction of doing my job and seeing 

the patient do well with it — and like I said — being able to 

go home and live their lives and do more with their families.” 

His managements and peers recommended his promotion 

to a supervisor position within the department. He said this is 

among his favorite achievements in his time at the hospital 

so far. 

“Right now, it’s when I became a supervisor,” Horne 

said. “I haven’t been in the field terribly long; I have only 

seven years experience, so it’s like getting to that pinnacle, 

to me, is an achievement.” 

He has experience caring for patients from gunshot 

victims to babies. He added resuscitating a baby can be 

stressful but among the most worthwhile feelings he 

experiences on the job. 

He graduated with his associate’s and bachelor’s 

degrees in respiratory therapy from Macon State College. 

Horne said he has lived in this area for almost seven 

years with his wife, Kodie. They have two boys: Joseph and 

Caleb. 


19

Perry Fire Department 

Drew Rowell 

By: WILL OLIVER 


For Perry Fire Sergeant Drew Rowell, every aspect of 

completing the job and taking care of Perry residents are his 

favorite parts of his position at the fire department. Bringing 

his comrades home safe after every call is one of his goals. 

“[My favorite part is] doing our duty — I guess you could 

say — doing the profession; I like doing that,” Rowell said. “[I 

like] taking care of the little things that are here because we’re 

not always running calls, but we have an apparatus to maintain 

and a station to upkeep. We’ve got the citizens to care for.” 

He said that it is an honor to serve his country at the city, 

state and national level. 

“I feel like I was called to serve,” he added. “Not only do I 

do this, but I’m in the Georgia Air National Guard through the 

Air Force. [I want to] put others first before I put myself first.” 

For Rowell, the greatest achievements he has attained in 

his work with the department do not necessarily involve the 

titles that come along with them. 

“I guess my greatest achievement would be this past 

month, getting the promotion to sergeant and being voted 

on by my peers as Firefighter of the Year,” he said. “Also, in 

2016, I was voted Rookie of the Year, which is pretty neat, too. 

Those accolades, they mean a lot, but hanging out here with 

the guys and having that camaraderie, the brotherhood and 

everything like that — it’s rewarding in itself. 

“When we go on a structure fire, or we go on an extrication 

or we go on those bad calls as one group and all of us work as one 

cohesive unit and get the job done, we’re all able to come back to 

the station, talk about it and debrief. The fact that we can all do 

that, and everything goes smoothly and we do it in a professional 

manner — that right there is the most gratifying it can get, for sure.” 

Rowell then spoke on some of the daily duties involved 

with his position. 

“As a sergeant, you drive and maintain the apparatus that 

you were assigned to for the day,” he said. “You’re the driver 

and the operator, so you’ll operate the pump as needed for 

fires — so you’re in charge of the apparatus and the people 

that are behind you.” 

No matter your role or rank within the department, 

everyone must continue to learn new skills to help the 

department excel as a unit, he explained. 

“If you don’t learn something new every shift, you’re 

doing something wrong,” Rowell said. “I take it day by day. 

Going through the ranks is a goal, of course. Taking classes 

[and] furthering my knowledge on the job and other things 

about the department and city itself — it’s enjoyable.” 

Rowell is a native of Perry, attending and graduating 

from Perry High School. He finished his associate’s degree 

at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and obtained his 

bachelor’s degree in business from Columbia Southern 

University. 

He also holds an advanced EMT license and has served 

in the Georgia Air National Guard for over 3 years as a 

communication and navigation avionics specialist. 

Rowell and his wife, Kelsey, have a daughter named 

Blakelyn that was recently born on March 19. 


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21

Perry Police Department 

Mike Hamsley 

By: WILL OLIVER 


Mike with his wife, Kelly 

Mike Hamsley — a recently retired member of the Perry 

Police Department following 43 years of service — was 

born at Dr. Gallemore’s office in Perry on August 13, 1957. 

Hamsley’s brother worked with the county sheriff’s 

office, and that steered Hamsley and his interest in the 

direction of a career in law enforcement. He graduated from 

Perry High School before attending the police academy on 

Eisenhower Parkway in Macon. 

“At that time, it was simply a six-week course for the 

basic law enforcement certification, but that was in March 

of ’79,” Hamsley said. 

He spent his entire law enforcement career with the 

department in Perry. 

“I started as a patrol officer, and I had almost six years 

on the road,” he explained. “Then I went into the inside, and 

at that time, there was no ‘911’; you dispatched from the 

police department. We had a jail. So that was the two of the 

three jobs that you did, what I call ‘on the inside.’” 

Eventually, a dispatch center took over the “911” 

portion of the duties, and the GBI brought on a state 

computer system that connected all the other statewide 

Mike at retirement party with Command Staff 

and nationwide departments. That system began seeing 

service around 1988. 

“Each department has to have what they call a ‘TAC’ — 

a Terminal Agency Coordinator — and Chief Simons, at that 

time, named me as a TAC,” Hamsley said. “I was a TAC up 

until the day that I retired; I really enjoyed it.” 

He added it was a privilege to work with some great 

people during his time with the Perry department. 

“That’s probably the main thing, when you can help 

people,” he explained. “You’re no different than they are; 

sometimes they make kind of bad decisions that you kind 

of have to deal with them on. But by and large, the people 

that you deal with are just honest, decent, hard-working 

people trying to make the day.” 

There is a place in Hamsley’s heart for animals, including 

the few he has staying at home with him. He and his wife 

have some rescue animals — two dogs and two cats — that 

keep them company. 

“I’ve always had a soft spot for the animals, these dogs 

and cats,” Hamsley said. “I’m a member of FOPAS [Friends 

of Perry Animal Shelter], which is here in town. I help those 

ladies, and I look forward to doing that.” 

In terms of retirement, he said camping — doing it 

locally, going up to High Falls or down to St. Simons — as 

well as fixing up around the house and yard are among the 

things he has planned. His wife also wants to take a trip to 

Laurel, Mississippi. 

But at the end of it all, spending time with his family is 

his top priority. 

“Well, I plan to take up just as much time as I can with 

my wife; we’ve been married for going on 42 years,” he 

said. “That’s my biggest priority: Her, my grandkids and my 

family.” 

His wife’s name is Kelly, and together, the Hamsleys 

have two children, Griffin and Kalla, along with two 

grandchildren, Hayes and Olivia. His daughter-inlaw, 

Allison, is the executive director of the Perry Area 

Convention and Visitors Bureau. 


23

Warner Robins 

Fire Department 

Michael Buckner 



Michael Buckner was not always the captain of Warner Robins 

Fire Department’s Training Division. At one time, he worked at 

Mid State RV Center. It was not until a fellow employee of Mid 

State RV Center invited Buckner to a volunteer firefighter meeting 

that he would even consider joining the fire department. 

According to Buckner, the desire to fight fires was 

immediate. That was in 1999. 

Buckner reached the requirements necessary and would 

then work himself through the ranks. After working through 360 

hours of training to become one of the original certified Georgia 

Search and Rescue members, and then going on to spend 26 

days deployed to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, Buckner 

decided that he could not work his regular job anymore — he 

had to be in the fire service. 

Buckner was hired by the Houston County Fire Department. 

Later, he took a job with the Warner Robins Fire Department. 

He has been working there since 2007 and has worked from 

firefighter to captain. 

In addition to his professional career, Buckner is celebrating 

his ninth year of marriage and has five children — three boys 

and two girls. Buckner was named Fire Officer of the Year in 

2022; however, he counts his family as his greatest achievement. 

Buckner said that the reason for his service has shifted over 

the years. 

“The first time I got involved in [the fire service] was because 

I wanted the action,” Buckner said. “When I became a volunteer, 

I loved the fact that you were doing that kind of stuff. The action 

was what I was seeking originally. 

“But as I got older, I got tired of seeing the destruction: 

people dying, losing their loved ones — it impacted me 

differently. The reason I serve now is so that I can give the people 

that I train the highest level of quality, so that when they get on 

a fire scene, they’re able to save that property, save those lives, 

make sure we minimize the damage, simply because the tools 

they’re getting from what we’re able to provide in the Training 

Division helps them achieve those goals faster and better.” 

Buckner plays a part in Warner Robins Fire Department’s 

training for their fire fighters, and ensures that they are 

equipped with the tools they need for the job. 

“It’s not about us,” Buckner said. “We preach safety on 

firefighters to keep everyone safe. But the reality of it is, we risk 

a lot to save a lot.” 


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25

Warner Robins 

Police Department 

The Peer Team 



Eric Hunley Matt Smith Trent VanLannen 

Pictured L-to-R: Trent VanLannen, Matt Smith & Eric Hunley 

First responders have difficult jobs. Because of the 

necessity of their jobs — because of what being a police 

officer, a fire fighter, an EMS worker involves — the things they 

have to see and do can be traumatic. 

Their jobs are not always as simple as saving the day; 

sometimes they have to witness unimaginable sights or make 

judgment calls that would leave anyone shaken afterwards. 

The goal of the Warner Robins Police Department Peer Team is 

to help officers deal with some of that trauma. 

WRPD’s Peer Team is a ten-person group of officers who, 

on top of their regular duties as patrol officers, investigators 

and the like, have been trained to recognize the signs of 

people struggling with trauma and are able to offer a lending 

hand. Speaking with Sergeant Matt Smith, Patrolman Eric 

Hunley, and Detective Trent VanLannen, they explained the 

importance of their work. 

“It’s for emotional well being and mental wellness,” 

VanLannen said. “We can be as physically fit, we can be as 

driven and direct, as good at our jobs as we could possibly be, 

but all of that takes a toll over time. You’ve got to be able to 

exercise your emotional well being as well as your physical 

well being; it’s equally as important.” 

According to information provided by the Peer Team, in 

2022 alone there have been 50 law enforcement suicides — 

from 2020 to 2022, there has been 485. In 2021, there were 

73 law enforcement officer deaths, and in 2022 thus far, there 

have been 95. 

“We’ve all worked without it, when it didn’t exist,” Hunley 

said. “That really helps us further understand how important 

this is. There was no system in place; there was no support.” 

After starting as a team of six in 2016, the team has 

expanded to a group of ten. They assist their fellow officers 

whenever necessary, even working with other local agencies 

when they are in need, as well. The team provides a listening 

ear and a structured format for people to talk about their 

struggles. 

“We here at WRPD truly embrace this concept of being 

there for each other,” Smith said. “Any agency around, if they 

ever need us, we’re there for them. We have a great team and 

support staff here that believe in what we do, and we’re more 

than willing to be there for other people or agencies that need 

us.” 

Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner commended the 

peer team for its work. 

In addition to Smith, Hunley and VanLannen, there 

are seven other officers working on the Peer Team. They 

are: Officers Josh Wilcox, Chris Fussell, Greg Martin, Jason 

Lamberth, Chris Scaderi, Carter Gravitt and Chandralyn Jones. 


27

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