APRIL 2011 MEMBER PROFILE:

Retired Engineer Steven Gers, 62, born in Lewistown, PA. Graduated from Lewistown High in 1968 and moved to Jacksonville in 1970. Steve met his wife Pam in 1983 and married in 1988. They met at the Electric Cowboy Dance Hall on Phillips Highway.

Steve went to work with Southeast Toyota for 5 years and came on under the PEP program. Steve was assigned to Engine 11 under Captain Harbison. Steve recalls that the Captain always got up before the 7am alarm, they would drink coffee and the Captain would tell stories about WW11. Steve says the stories were always interesting.

Steve spent 6 months at Sta. 11 and then was transferred to Sta. 6 on Florida Ave. under Captain MacDonald. After his year probation Steve was transferred to Rescue 10C with Captain John Bailey and Engineer Rick Bass as third person.

After being promoted to Engineer Steve was assigned to Rescue 3 at the beach with Lt. Randy Fitts as his officer. The two of them were transferred to Rescue 11 and after a short time the administration moved Rescue 11 to Station 30 and named it Rescue 30 where he rode with Captain Ron Dorsett for a period of 1 year.

Steve spent 10 years in Rescue and then transferred to Engine 30C to drive Lt. Larry Norris. Steve was assigned to Station 49 (Blount Island) in 1989 with Lt. Joe Blake and Jack Feaster. At one time this crew had the most number of years on the department.

Steve retired from Station 48 with 30 years of service.

Steve also remembers that the Stuart Petroleum as his most memorable fire.

In 1992 Steve moved to Spanish Point and became interested in restoring cars. In his backyard he has two garages in which he does the work. At the present time Steve has a 1977 Pontiac Firebird, which Pam bought and the title is still in her maiden name. Steve has two 1969 AMX American Motors cars, one has been fully restored and is a show car. The other is a work in progress.

In March of this year Steve and Pam drove their show car to the Merrill Road Krystal car show for the first time and received numerous comments by the public. It took him two years to rebuild this car including, rebuilding the engine, all the body work and sanded and blocked the cars 9 times. Anyone that knows car restoration can really appreciate the work that has gone into this car. Steve said if appraised the car would be worth over $30,000.00.

Steve had restored three Jeeps before this car, a 1972CJ5 and 2 Jeep 1984CJ7.

Pam works as an auditor for Marsh Landing. Steve is enjoying his retirement filling his days with hunting, fishing,
And working on restoring old cars. Pam’s parents live in Hickory, NC on Lake Hickory and Steve’s parents live in Tampa, FL and they visit their parents quite often.

	Pam and Steve Gers poolside, with their show car. A 1969 American Motors AMX.
Steve inside the garage where all the hard work took place that he is so proud of. It certainly is a labor of love that made this a show stopper.
	Pam and Steve in front of one of the 2 garages they use to restore old cars.
Pam and Steve work well together in a shared interest in restoring the cars.