April 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2006-21)
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
R. Steve Huffman
Public Information Officer
(251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813
E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org
APRIL FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH
Firefighter Dale A. Shaw, 34, a seven and one half year veteran of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department has been selected Firefighter of the Month for April. For over 12 months Firefighter Kenny Milligan has watched his 15-year-old son, K.J., battle cancer and his home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Milligan had also exhausted all his vacation and sick leave so he could spend time with his son, who was undergoing treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. The last thing a person in his situation needs to worry about is whether he has enough leave to stay on the payroll or what he is going to do about where his family was going to live.
Shaw was the one person who wanted to make sure Milligan's only focus was getting his son well and not the other issues. Shaw spearheaded a drive to collect a year's worth of donated vacation/sick leave from fellow firefighters so Milligan would remain on the payroll. After Hurricane Katrina, Milligan bought a house after hardly seeing it or knowing that it was in such disrepair so he could get back to his son at the hospital.
There were holes in the wall, the air-conditioning had problems and the master bathroom had been completely gutted. Shaw gathered a volunteer workforce to help renovate and repair the house so it was livable. Shaw and the other volunteers replaced all the floors, installed granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, and painted the rooms. Shaw also solicited and collected donations of new household furnishings and goods for Milligan and his family so when they came home on April 12, 2006, they'd have a beautiful house in which to call home.
Because of his tireless effort in helping a fellow firefighter, Shaw was given this honor. The Pleasant Valley Opportunity Club (formally the Optimist Club) sponsors the Firefighter of the Month program and made the presentation on Wednesday, April 26, 2006.
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