THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511100229
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: 20 QUESTIONS
SOURCE: PHYLLIS SPEIDELL
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
When the Portsmouth Fire Department announced the Firefighter of the Year at a recent ceremony, Janet McDaniel, a member of the department's color guard, was standing at ease in the back of the hall.
Too stunned to believe that she had heard correctly, she asked the firefighter standing next to her, ``Who did he say?''
Receiving the award was a thrill for this Suffolk woman, who dreamed of being a firefighter when she was in high school in Colorado.
``I had friends who were volunteer firefighters and I was interested but, back then, I always pictured firefighters as men and never saw myself as one,'' she said.
After a series of jobs that included working as a travel agent and a two-year stint as an animal control officer in Portsmouth, McDaniel joined the fire department Jan. 15, 1992.
Determination and drive as well as a ready sense of humor are some of McDaniel's outstanding traits, and she needed all of them to pursue her firefighting aspirations.
Although she had passed the written test without a problem, McDaniel's first physical measured her body fat 2 percent over the required level. Months of lean eating and exercise had her passing her second physical easily.
Firefighters have been described as ordinary people who do extraordinary things and McDaniel is proud to be included among them.
``Most folks go running out of burning buildings,'' she said. ``We go running into them.''
For the future, McDaniel plans to continue her career in firefighting. But she would also love to find a nice house for her and her rather large puppy, a pit bull named Buster, and ultimately get married and raise a family.
What brought you here? Ex-husband was in the Navy and this was the last transfer before we divorced.
Birthdate/hometown - 12/05/64. As an Army brat, I had many hometowns but was born at Fort Riley, Kan.
Fondest childhood memory - The times I spent with my grandmother in Germany and my granddaddy in Christiansburg, Va.
Marital status/children - Divorced/no children.
Pets - Buster, a 90-pound pit bull puppy.
First job/worst job - Pizza cook at age 13. No worst jobs as I have enjoyed all my many occupations.
Occupation - Firefighter/shock trauma technician.
If you had a choice, what other job would you choose? Veterinarian.
Favorite night out on the town - A good meal, good conversation, and some nice, relaxing jazz, preferably on The Spirit of Norfolk.
Favorite food and drink - Variety is the spice of life and I like anything with flavor, but no innards.
Book you wish everyone would read - The Bible, in its entirety, not just bits and pieces.
Ideal vacation - A seven-day cruise to a sunny location.
I can' resist - Beautiful flowers.
Few people know that - I am such a softy deep down.
If you won the lottery what would you do/buy? I would ensure that my parents had a very comfortable house in a location of their choice and buy one for myself.
What is the best advice you have been given and by whom? Never give up and trust in God came from my Mom and Dad.
What is the best thing about yourself? I have a positive attitude and I am very determined.
If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would you be and why? I am happy being me. I believe God placed each one of us here for a reason and I am not sure what mine is, but I insist on pressing on as me.
What achievement are you most proud of? Getting on the Portsmouth Fire Department and making Firefighter of the Year.
Something you wish to say but haven't - I wish people would be less occupied with their personal differences and more concerned with taking action to help solve at least one of the many problems that face our society today. For example, become more involved with youth programs or civic groups, not gripe sessions. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB