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Meet Firefighter Madison Pearce

Madison Pearce

Sanger Fire Department

Firefighter/Paramedic Madison Pearce has served with the Sanger Fire Department for five years. Additionally, he serves as a Paramedic part-time with Cook County. The fact that he is dedicated to his profession is likely one of the reasons he was selected as the 2021 Firefighter/ Paramedic of the year by the Sanger American Legion. I have previously spent time with Pearce in my ride-a-longs, but on Monday, January 24th, I was able to spend a few minutes talking with and getting to know this year’s winner. And while it is evident that he doesn’t like to talk about himself and certainly doesn’t want to be the center of attention, I was able to pull a bit of information out of him.

Pearce is a born and raised Texan. He grew up in Era, Texas. It is a small, rural, agricultural community about 11 miles southwest of Gainesville. In fact, the community is so small he told me that his high school graduating class contained only 32 members.

Life growing up in Era was relatively simple. Madison and

Sanger 2021 Firefighter/Paramedic of the year

his three sisters (he is one of the middle children) were raised on a small farm. He recalled childhood memories of the many gardens he helped to tend, the canning of vegetables, and life living on a farm surrounded by typical farm animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs.

Pearce is well-liked by the Sanger FD. They refer to him as Mr. Happy. The group said, “Pearce is very quiet and always happy. He is just easy to be around.” He gets his fair share of the firehouse chores, though. It seems they are all called upon to cook. On this particular

Monday evening, my mouth was watering at the delicious smell of a roast cooking in the oven. For Pearce, his specialty is Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. I don’t know if this recipe is the same one Pearce uses, but it sounds delicious!

So, what made Pearce want to be a Firefighter/Paramedic? “I love helping people. Here there is always something to do. I like keeping busy.” He said that he knew during his sophomore year of high school that he wanted to

Article by City staff - Donna Green

Era High School Mascot

pursue this line of work. When I inquired if he felt he had made the right decision, he stated, “I love what I do. I never feel like this is work.”

When thinking about his 5-year and 10-year plan, where does he see himself, and what will he be doing? “I will be right here the next five years, ten years, and beyond.” His passion is teaching, so he expects to be an FTO (Field Training Officer). He doesn’t ever see himself leaving. Madison is happy here in Sanger. So happy that he purchased his first home nearby. He told me it is a bit of a fixer-upper. When he is not working, which is rare, or hunting, he plans to spend time making the needed home improvements.

Era High School - background.

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