By Brittney Mangum
bmangum@clarkecountytrib.com
“Spend valuable time with your loved ones as much as possible. We often take the little things for granted, and one day those things will no longer be with us. Then, we will wish we could have them back,” advised Chad Allen. “Let things go. We live in a much different world from when I was little; I know most people can relate. I wish we could all learn to just slow down, relax, and not be so stressed, offended, and hurtful and petty about things that have little to no significant meaning in the long run. I wish everyone could show how much they care, be compassionate and understanding for each other and love everyone to the best of our ability.”
Chad Allen does his best each day to show all those around him love and compassion. He doesn’t take any day for granted and understands just how special everything in life is. His love and appreciation for everyone and everything around him started when he was a young boy; in fact, he credits his family with making him into the man he is today.
“I’m the son of Scotty and Susan Allen of Stonewall and the high school sweetheart of Miranda Davidson. We are life-long residents of Clarke County and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” stated Chad. “My amazing parents are the number one reason why I’m who I am today. Not only did they teach me all the basics—right from wrong, etc.—they also taught much greater and useful things in life: how to manage finances, how to work hard to earn your keep, how to build and maintain a strong, valuable reputation by always being true to your word, and most of all how to treat people by simply caring for and loving them no matter what. My entire life, my parents have been my rock. They’ve stood with my through everything. When I think I’m slacking, failing, or thinking about giving up, I look at them and know they’re proud of me and support me.”
He didn’t learn all those lessons from just listening to his parents. He observed them and learned a lot of life lessons by seeing the example they gave him.
“My mama worked at Lakeside Living Center for many years. When I’d go there to take her food or simply pay a visit, I always noticed how she would treat the elderly residents. They would see her coming down the hallway and would automatically light up with joy. Mama would stop and carry on conversations with them and just show them that she cared for them. She would tell them all about me, and before I knew it I was engaged in an hour—sometimes longer—conversation with them. This taught me at a young age that no matter who the stranger is that you meet, everyone is going through something, and sometimes a thirty minute talk could change their lives,” recalled Chad. “My daddy has been one of the hardest working men I’ve ever met. He owns and successfully operates S&S Signs of Stonewall where he’s sometimes so busy that he works well into the night hours to make sure everyone gets what they ordered in time. Daddy taught me most about money and what it takes to be a real man in the world in which we live. He taught me the true meaning of respect, commitment, and dedication to those who we serve no matter if they’re a customer, friend, or family.”
Chad took all the lessons he learned to heart and has always been a hard worker. His first job was in journalism, and he loved it.
“My very first job was at the Clarke County Tribune. A high school friend told me they had an opening and asked if I’d be interested. I didn’t hesitate; as soon as school was over, I went straight over and spoke to Cindy Baxley, who was the manager at that time. She hired me on the spot, and I loved every minute of it,” Chad reminisced. “Being my first job, I wanted to prove to them that I was a hard worker like my parents taught me. I folded, inserted sales ads, and labeled newspapers and prepared them for the post office drop off. While there, I became interested in the happenings around the county, so I went out and bought my very first camera and began taking photos all over the county. I would send Cindy my photos, and she would write up stories and publish them in the newspaper. I thought that it was so cool to see my photos in the newspaper and was proud of my work, never knowing that someday I would be doing the same thing as a part-time hobby for the citizens of Clarke County.”
His love of keeping citizens informed never left. Eventually, Chad decided to use social media to be able to keep people informed about the different things happening in the area.
“In 2011, I created a Facebook page called Clarke County Hot Topics. The sole purpose of its creation was to help better inform the citizens of Clarke County about the happenings around them,” explained Chad. “Back then, the way a lot of people got their information was by listening to the police scanner. That changed in 2010 when the old scanner system became obsolete. The days of going to Radio Shack and buying a police scanner were over. After learning this, I realized a lot of our elderly citizens could no longer keep up with wrecks, fires, crimes, and other happenings in the community. My number one goal was to be able to bring the news, weather, and other happenings directly to the elderly or their families to continue the legacy of ‘police scanners.’ Since those days, CCHT has taken off; although successful, it has become more like another full-time job. We have people of all ages from all over who follow the page and are mostly very appreciative of the service provided at no cost. Through the community page, I enjoy hosting fundraisers, benefits, and toy drives to help the community in need, and those people have always remained my top priority.”
His love for helping others goes beyond just keeping them informed. Over the years, and even now, he has taken jobs that allow him to assist citizens in the community when they need help the most.
“I was hired as a 911 Dispatcher in 2000 under the newly elected Sheriff Todd Kemp, working the graveyard shift. I’ve worked alongside some of the greatest dispatchers around, including who I learned the most from: Barry White and Jackie Matthews. Although I was new to dispatch, I quickly fell in love with the job knowing I was taking and dispatching calls, getting help to those in emergency situations,” declared Chad. “When I left Clarke County Dispatch in December 2005 to take on a new role, I felt like I left a piece of my heart behind. I went to work at MHP Troop H in Meridian serving nine counties. Not only is there more responsibility, but there is also added pressure(s) to ensuring the highest standard in public safety. I look most-forward to returning to my hometown roots when I’m able to come back to Clarke County 911.”
His love for assisting others in emergency situations also started when he was a child. Helping others actually makes up some of his favorite memories.
“Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper as the old saying goes, I was crawling around on the floor at the Stonewall Fire Department watching, learning, and absorbing everything I could about the firefighter world. My daddy was a long-time member and later the Chief of the fire department. I remember getting to ride in the fire trucks, going on emergency calls with him, and seeing what impact the volunteer fire services had on the community,” proclaimed Chad. “Once I got 16-years-old, I joined the fire department as a junior firefights and was able to get hands-on with certain calls. At the age of 18, I was a full-time member of the department/emergency medical first responder. My greatest memories were those in which I was able to help people in need whether it was a house fire or medical call. Seeing how you can play a small part in a person’s life made a huge impact on me. I became certified in just about everything you could imagine and loved every minute of it. To add to my memories, I worked for Dewayne Crane at Paratech EMS for eight years, and the days on the ambulance were life-changing. Using knowledge I learned from emergency classes, being a firefighter and 911 Dispatcher, this was the ultimate way to help those in need. Like all jobs, we had our good days and bad, but when you’re able to work as a team and bring someone back to life, there’s no greater feeling in the world than knowing you played a small part in that revival process. My greatest memory to date is being there to help those in need.”
Although he stays busy with his job and maintaining Clarke County Hot Topics, Chad does have other things he enjoys doing in his free time.
“My hobbies include the love for auto racing. I’ve been around dirt track, drag racing, and NASCAR my entire life. My papaw, Ed Allen, Uncle Danny Allen, and all of my childhood friends were all race car fanatics, which still holds true today. I also love high school and college football. I’ve recently begun flying drones. It’s very relaxing to fly, and I love the ability to take aerial photos of landscapes, sunsets, and historic areas around the county,” informed Chad. “I love to travel with my family and see different areas. I love to try different restaurants and take photos of places I’ve visited. I often tell people that when I retire I will most likely be travelling somewhere, camping, and enjoying what little time I have left. I feel like I’ll still be hosting fundraisers for those in need no matter how old I get. It’s just something I love to do.”
No matter what each day brings, Chad does his best to be a blessing for others. His selfless nature is apparent in everything he does, and he wants to do nothing more than make a positive impact on the community he lives in.
If you would like to nominate someone for Person of the Week, contact Brittney Mangum at 601-776-3726.
