[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PAYING TRIBUTE TO PHILLIP ROGERS FOR HIS 35 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Phil 
Rogers of the Anderson Fire Department. For over three decades Phil has 
served the City and residents of Anderson, Indiana through his work as 
a paramedic, firefighter, and two terms as the Anderson Fire Department 
Chief. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District are forever 
grateful for Phil Rogers' commitment to making the City of Anderson a 
safer, better place to live.
  Phil is a lifelong Hoosier. He was born and raised in Anderson and he 
graduated from Madison Heights High School in 1978. After high school, 
Phil attended Indiana State University where he studied industrial 
engineering. He decided that industrial engineering was not his passion 
and, fortunately there was an opening with the Anderson Fire Department 
which allowed Phil to begin his path toward his true calling as an 
emergency responder. He applied to the cadet program and, in October 
1981, he became a sworn firefighter. Through the addition of paramedic 
services to the Anderson Fire Department in the late 1980s, Phil found 
his passion for patient care through paramedic service.
  Phil is a public safety veteran, his years of distinguished service 
proved invaluable and in January 2006 Mayor Kevin Smith appointed Phil 
to be the City of Anderson's 21st Fire Chief. Phil became the first 
African-American to serve as Fire Chief for the City of Anderson and 
Madison County. He is also the first African-American paramedic in 
Madison County as well as the first Paramedic to be appointed Chief of 
the Anderson Fire Department. His leadership emphasized professionalism 
and increased training. He ensured that all department firefighters 
were certified. Recognizing the need for a new training facility, Phil 
championed the development of the regional Fire Training Center on 
Martin Luther King Boulevard, which services the 13 surrounding 
counties. He worked tirelessly to lower Anderson's fire rating, 
reducing insurance costs for businesses. And he was instrumental to the 
successful application for The Department of Homeland Security's 
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program (SAFER) which 
awarded the Anderson Fire Department a 1.25 million dollar grant to 
assist with emergency preparation and response efforts. After his time 
as chief, Phil returned to Station 2 and resumed his duties as a 
paramedic.
  Phil devoted himself to a life of service to his community. Through 
his dedication to patient care, to capable local government, and above 
all his Hoosier home, he has made the City of Anderson and the wider 
community of Madison County a safer and better place to live. On behalf 
of all Hoosiers, I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to Phil for his 
35 years of service. I wish the very best to Phil in his well-deserved 
retirement as well as in the next exciting chapter of his life.

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