PROFILE December 2011:  Robert Otis Tarkington, Engineer Ladder 18

Robert Otis Tarkington, born October 1, 1953 in Jacksonville to Otis Jr. and Betty Tarkington. Robert has two older brothers, Dennis and Billy. He also has two half brothers, Neal ( deceased) and Brian.

Robert married Linda Gail in 1987. Linda Gail worked and retired from JFRD in 2008. Together they have a
combined family of 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

Robert graduated from Ribault High School in 1971. During his high school years Robert ran JV track but then began working with his father in his contracting business.

After graduating from Ribault Robert joined the Air National Guard from which he retired as a Tech Sergeant in 1993. Robert was also a firefighter in the guard.

Robert was a firefighter at Jacksonville International Airport from 1976 until 1981.

Robert credits Jim Porter (retired and deceased) for his becoming a firefighter. Robert says that Jim was his neighbor as a young man and was very encouraging. Robert was hired on JFRD in 1981 and assigned to Station 18. Robert’s first officer was Captain Mike George (retired) and Robert Wyse was the District Chief. Robert has been assigned to Station 18 the majority of his career, with the exception of going to Station 34 for 1 year and Station 48 for 2 shifts. Robert asked to be transferred back to Sta. 18 after working 2 shifts at Sta. 48 and only going on 2 calls. He said he was bored and they didn’t have cable TV. Robert will be retiring from Sta. 18 on January 6, 2012.

Robert has been a member of the Honor Guard for many years. When he joined Howard Davidson was the
Commander and soon after Mike George resumed that role.

Robert has also been very active with the Retired Firefighters Luncheon since the early days. His wife Linda Gail has been active with the luncheon since 1982.

Robert certainly knows his way around the kitchen. He has been the Chief cook for the Firefighter’s Widow’s
Luncheon since it began 7 years ago.

Among many honors that Robert has achieved in his career are being two time recipient of the Eddie Cowart
Firefighter of the Year Award. Robert first won the award in 1992 after talking a man into laying down a shotgun and surrendering. Robert won the award again in 2000 after rescuing a man that was trapped in a hole.

Robert’ hobbies include motorcycling and fishing.

Robert and Linda Gail have bucket list that they intend to start working on as soon as he retires. Included on this list is an Alaskan Cruise and a trip to Pearl Harbor.

When asked how he planned to stay busy when he retired Robert sited a story he apparently has told his children. He is going to do whatever he wishes for a while. He stated that if he get bored he is going to apply for the job of driving the train for kids in Orange Park Mall. Good Luck with that.