Aces of Trades: Curtis Golden's life is dedicated to helping others
LANCASTER − Virtually everything Curtis Golden does is geared toward helping people. Not only is he the Hocking Township Fire Department Chief, but he also works in the medical field.
"That is correct, yes," Golden said. "I started healthcare stuff in high school with Lancaster High School and their healthcare programs. But I always had this knack of wanting to help people. It's kind of my passion. It's something I really like to do and I enjoy it."
Golden has been the fire chief since the department started in 2012.
"I actually assisted the township trustees in 2011 to create the department and open up the township department for our service area," he said.
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Golden started his career in fire fighting and emergency medical services in 2006 part-time for the Amanda Township Fire Department.
His position as chief is also part-time, as Golden works at Diley Ridge Medical Center in Canal Winchester full-time as the assistant clinical manager and educator for the emergency department and the center's inpatient unit.
"My background is a little different because I started in fire and EMS and transitioned over to respiratory therapy and became a respiratory therapist," he said. "And I graduated back in 2019 with my master's degree in healthcare administration. I'm actually right now finishing up and pursuing a nursing degree (at Hondros College of Nursing in Westerville) and I should hopefully be done this summer."
Golden said as a child he would see Lancaster Fire Department trucks leave Engine House 1 and realized firefighting was what he wanted to do as a career.
"As I went through high school I started looking at careers and what I could do and that's what attracted me," he said. "I can be in an industry where I can help individuals in the community and around where I live."
Away from work, Golden spends time with his 3-year-old daughter and his husband, William.
"We're either at home or we're out visiting family or you can usually find us in downtown Lancaster at one of the local restaurants or local coffee shops just spending time," he said. "Or spending time with our daughter out enjoying local things in Lancaster like AHA! (AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children's Museum) or Art & Clay on Main."
jbarron@gannett.com
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Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Aces of Trades: Curtis Golden's life is dedicated to helping others
