This column serves as a spotlight, highlighting the everyday people who work and live in Callaway County. The Fulton Sun takes a moment with someone who is not usually featured in the news but is just as instrumental in making the community the strong and beautiful place residents here know and love.
Russell Sing moved to Callaway County in 1989 with his family. He started out his career in the fire service at the Central Callaway County Fire Protection District as a volunteer for five years. During that time, he was working part-time at the Missouri School of the Deaf as well as attending the police academy. Once he graduated there, he moved to Mexico, Missouri, and worked for Mexico Public Safety as a training guy, fire inspector, investigator and school resource officer. Sing has been in the fire service for a little more than 20 years, and he loves it. He has been working for the City of Fulton for three years as the training officer and second in charge.
When he's not at the station, he enjoys spending most of his spare time with his family especially his 2-year-old grandson; otherwise you can catch him at the golf course.
What was your first job?
My first job was working for my dad. He used to have a roofing and construction company here in Fulton. We roofed many, many houses and businesses in town.
Who inspires you the most?
Probably my parents. They have been very supportive through everything I've done; they're good role models. Family is huge to me.
What have you done that has been most fulfilling?
I feel like in this line of work most of what I do now is fulfilling, but I would say going and teaching kids fire safety is pretty neat. Getting to see their face light up.
I have had students come to me, and I know their house had a fire, and later on they come to me and they say they did what they were taught, get out and stay out. So being able to do that with the kids is very rewarding,
What is something you are proud of that you've been recognized for?
I'm pretty proud of the certifications that I've been able to obtain over the years: law enforcement, all my fire certifications, and I just recently I obtained my EMT. Those are pretty proud moments.
If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
I really like what I do so if it would be anything else it would be medical helicopter pilot.
What is a job you wouldn't want to do?
I would say a dispatcher, because you're listening to people at their worst times, and I would feel helpless. Dispatchers have a rough job, and I don't think I would want that job. It's pretty stressful.
That's one job I don't think I would want just because of the unknown a lot of times they don't know the final outcome, and they're hearing the worst things and there's nothing they can do but talk to them.
What is your favorite thing about Callaway County?
I like the history of the county. Most everyone is friendly, and it's a good community. We have good things that happen around the county, neat little things like the street fair. There's always something fun to do. I also like all the ma and pa places around the county.