(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Columbia Fire Department Firefighter Forrest Cawley.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in McComb, Miss., Nov. 14, 1993.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Columbia High School.
Q: Where all have you lived?
A: I lived in Tylertown most of my life then moved over here in 2011 for my junior and senior year.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: Right now I’m in charge with running the rescue truck for the Columbia Fire Department, which means if we get a medical call I go out on that. I’m also on the fire truck. If we get a structure fire or a wreck, we roll both of them. I pretty much do whatever they tell me.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I didn’t like the old job I was at, so I decided to come out and try it. I figured if I didn’t like it I could always quit. I ended up liking it, so I stayed and have been here three years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Interacting with the people is probably my favorite. I like going out to help people, letting kids see the fire truck and passing out the little hats to them. If you get a smile, man, you’re doing your job. It’s all about reaching out to the people and service.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I was sanding 18-wheelers in a body shop. It was really fun, but it was hot.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: My mom, Chasity, my dad, Chris, I have an uncle, Chris, in the fire department who steered me in this direction, great-grandparents — just close family members. I had an uncle who was in the service when I was really little, and I watched him go off to Afghanistan. My dad was a police officer for a few years when I was little, so I feel like civil service has always been a part of my family. I figured I’d follow in the footsteps somehow.
Q: If you could relive one day from your life, which day would you choose?
A: Probably my first day here. I’d like to take my experience I have now and take it back with me. I didn’t know anything about the fire service, and when I came in we had back-to-back structure fires. It was my first time in turnout gear, and it was really hot and really terrible, but I enjoyed it.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have a girlfriend, Hannah, and she has a little boy, Bentley, who is 3. I’ve pretty much raised him up so far.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: I would say steak and grilled shrimp.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’d like to go to Washington state and go up to one of the national forests. Maybe the Bahamas, the Grand Canyon, the 9/11 Memorial or the Lord of the Rings trail in New Zealand.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to fish, read when I get some down time, drink coffee and socialize, play the drums, watch Netflix and work out.
Q: What do you enjoy about working in Columbia and Marion County?
A: I enjoy working here in Columbia with the crew I work with. Sometimes when you work a 24-hour shift it can get pretty dull, and you get aggravated with each other. But most of the time you’re laughing with each other and having a good time. It’s really a brotherhood here, and that’s what I really enjoy about it. Everybody is tight knit, close, want to see you do well and pick you up when you’re down. A lot of them are like my older brothers, but Willie Stogner we call “Grandpa Willie” because he’s the oldest one still here and has so much worldly wisdom that he likes to tell us.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My great-grandma, Elsie Pigott, passed away in November, and I miss her a lot. I’d let her meet Bentley, and I can see her now, “Awe, he’s so precious. Hot dog, baby.”
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: I feel like books have more detail, so I’m going to go with a book.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
A: I have so much stuff that’s happened in my life that has brought me to where I am now and where I needed to be, so it wouldn’t be just one moment. It would be watching my grandfathers work hard all their life, watching my dad support us, watching my mom support us, graduating high school, going to college, graduating from the fire academy, helping people — there really wasn’t one moment. I feel like everything I’ve done has led me to where I’m at now, whether it was doing something incredibly stupid and learning from it or doing something really well and learning from it.
Q: What would be the No. 1 thing on your Bucket List?
A: I used to say when I was little I wanted to hop on a Harley Davidson motorcycle and just ride away forever. But I really just like to travel a lot and experience new things in new places.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Faith, respect and honor.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I’d like to be remembered as someone who was always there for somebody and always had their back, and anybody could depend on me if they needed anything. I want people to say that guy was always hard working, always delivered and could always make us laugh.
Q: What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
A: I do like vinyl records. They sound a whole lot better than digital. It’s a lost art. One day I want to save rock ‘n roll and bring it all back. That’s my goal.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Columbia Fire Department Firefighter Forrest Cawley always knew growing up that he would be a civil servant. He has been with the fire department for three years. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
