Last summer, the ABCO team played a game of TAG! (the selected person had to share 10 things we probably did not know about them). Bill was it and played our game.
The following are Bill’s 10 Things:
1. While this is probably not an unknown fact about me to most, my 7 year old son Ty continues to be a seemingly exponential source of inspiration, motivation and happiness in my life! I am truly blessed!
2. I have a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for our elderly population. They have very different definitions for prosperity and for hardship than younger generations and are generally a great moral compass and barometer for today’s society.
3. I lived the first 13 years of my life in Ohio. From 1988 to 1995 I lived in central New Jersey just outside of Princeton where I attended High School and College. Everything moves very quickly in New Jersey. While it was a great experience at that point in my life and helped define the “pace” at which I continue to approach life, I’m happiest here at home in Ohio.
4. While in New Jersey I developed a passion for the fire service. I worked as a firefighter and extrication technician while going thru school. It too was a great experience for me and as I reflect back I recall all of the techniques, procedures, drills, calls and co-workers. All of those memories are overshadowed by the lesson I learned and carry with me today: Life is fragile, handle with care!
5. I was a member of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. I was never deployed “out west” but was ready to go!
6. I continued my education in the fire service once I moved back to Ohio and finished my firefighting certification. I then embarked on a challenging endeavor to complete a 2500 hour didactic/2500 hour clinical Paramedic program in one year attending part time in the evenings. I am a humble person by nature yet take great pride in graduating top of my class in both categories…Highest Clinical Skills Score and Highest Academic Average. It was the first time in Cleveland Clinic history that a single person accomplished both.
7. I have an insatiable passion for American History. I have been to Washington D.C. several times and continue to learn something new about our great country and the sacrifices made by our forefathers with each trip. I have been to quite a few of the big cities in our nation and D.C. is my favorite, followed closely by N.Y.C.
8. If I were given a golden ticket to visit any era it would be the 50′s and 60′s! What a great time that must have been with everything that has become “classic” to today’s America! I specifically enjoy the automobiles and the music. Aside from the obvious, I enjoy going to car shows and seeing the people cashing in that “golden ticket”, even if for only 2 hours an evening, reminiscing and reliving times clearly special to them!
9. For the very reasons I gave in number 8, I love to race at the drag strip. I’ve been doing it since I was 17 and it suits the thrill-seeker in me perfectly. One man, one car and for a ¼ mile nothing else exists. Oddly peaceful to me in such a sensory rich engagement! I am currently pursuing developing another hobby similar in structure: One man, one white ball and for 18 holes nothing else exists (except of course for the water hazards, sand traps, rough and the guy behind me who is always in a hurry!)
10. FUN FACT: I once attended a wedding of well-to-do’s where the main course was lobster tail, the well-lit expansive white tent was adorned with 20,000 fresh roses, the entertainment was Paul Simon and I got a close-up look at one of Jay Leno’s Lamborghini’s! Sorry, my lips are sealed!
11. BONUS FACT: I love the English language and I love to write!
Bill Jellison – Meridian Integrations
ABCO Fire Protection, is a regional provider of fire protection services in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
ABCO provides fire safety products that protect life and property.
