Tommy Truck

Comment

Comment by Mike Daley on December 14, 2009 at 8:17am

As I continued my training in the fire service at FDIC, I would always make time to sit in on Tommy Truck's lectures and classes. I enjoyed his style of teaching, as he told it like it is, and his knowledge and experience was far beyond what most of us would hope to be. But, I did have the opportunity to meet him once.

I was teaching a class out in Reno at a conference when a few of us were invited to the hospitality room of one of the larger corporate sponsors. I figured it was a great way to network and meet some new faces. So, I went in and there were a lot of the big names in the service present, along with Tom. He was "holding court" at the bar, discussing topics from water supply to ventilation to rescue. You name it, no topic was off limits to him. And almost everyone in the room wanted to hear what he was saying, including me. But, the crowd was deep, and the line was long. Luckily, one of the "bartenders" was looking for some relief from his "duties". Not exactly being new to that sore of vraft, I quickly volunteered, and took his place behind the "lectern",as it became for the night.

4 hours later, I was still pouring, and Tom was still holding a captive audience. A friend of mine leaned over the bar and asked me if I was OK. " I think you said maybe 6 words all night", he said. I said to him, "Look at the company we were in, wouldn't you listen more than speak right about now?"

The night was coming to a close, as we all had to teach in a few hours (literally). So as I was wiping down the area, Tom starts up a conversation wit hme about my class, where I was from, why I do what I do, and what can I do to make the service better every day.

"Who, me?" Who was I , a young Lt from a small town in Jersey that probably nobody ever heard of, and probably never will. But that was one of Tom's greatest attributes; It didn't matter who you were, or where you served. He always made time to LISTEN to what you thought, and it didn't matter when or where it was.

When he was in the area, class was always in session. I was fortunate enough to be his student, and I still am to this day.

Comment by Gene Esken Jr on November 25, 2009 at 9:46am

In 1987 I sat in on a lecture from Tom in Western PA. I was a young firefighter and very impressionable. Thank God it was his impressions that so effect my every day thinking and operating in the fire service. I will forever be thankful for that lecture on truck work. I think of it still everyday. To quote him "Sometimes you just have to take that" , speaking of a large peice of burning parapet that had fallen into the bucket of a Aerialscope. With firefighters in it!!

Comment by Chuck Fager on November 18, 2009 at 11:47am

LOL

Comment by Diane Feldman on November 18, 2009 at 10:41am

When Tom Brennan heard I was "sitting in" on Fire I classes to further my knowledge of the job as an editor at FE, he said, "A little knowledge in the wrong hands is a dangerous thing!" (He was right.)

Comment by Kevin F. Burns on November 14, 2009 at 9:34am

I met Tom coming out of a hotel at FDIC East when it was in Atlantic City for a couple of years. We knew a couple of mutual friends so I approached him to say hello. He couldn't have been nicer. It was like we were on the back step together rather a giant of our business talking to a nobody like me. (I had the same experience with Chief Brunacini by the way.) It seems the bigger they are the nicer they are. That's what great about the fire service.

Comment by Anthony Avillo on November 3, 2009 at 10:41am

Tommy was one of a kind. When I first met him at the FDIC booth, I saw him sitting there and I was like, "That's Tommy Brennan -- I can't just go talk to him!" He said, Hey! Anthony (he knew who I was -- imagine that!) A Jersey Boy. Come and sit down. Let's talk. Got time for a story?" Those stories almost made me miss a flight -- you just couldn't tear yourself away from Tommy. He made u feel like a long lost friend. I always looked forward to seeing him at the FDIC for a talk (a long talk). He was the King of the Court. His no-nonsense style influenced both my writing and my career. I wish I had known him longer.

Comment by Chuck Fager on November 2, 2009 at 6:07pm

Alright people....let's go! Let's get those stories going! I'm sure some of you have a few...!

Comment by Chuck Fager on October 29, 2009 at 10:54pm

What a great compilation of his articles! I I tend to us it as a personal critique. After a tour, I go back and find an article that relates to either a run or an alarm that we had, and see what Tom has to say about it. Then I sit in amazement and awe at how much knowledge he had, and his no nonsense way of delivering that info.

Comment by Dave LeBlanc on October 29, 2009 at 6:58am

I am re-reading Random Thoughts as we speak. Never cease to be amazed at how I pick up one more thing.

Comment by Chuck Fager on October 28, 2009 at 11:37pm

"Make the building behave!"