THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9612160200
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: PORTSMOUTH CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: Rebecca Myers Cutchins
LENGTH: 108 lines
He has 22 years of firefighting experience, yet Durand Coltrane recently took a step back to rookie status.
On the same day he retired from the Portsmouth Fire Department, Coltrane started a second firefighting career in the neighboring city of Suffolk.
``They kid me about being a rookie,'' Coltrane said of the new recruits in Suffolk, ``but they look to me for leadership.''
Coltrane retired from the Portsmouth Fire Department Oct. 1 under a pension plan that allows police and firefighters to retire after 20 years of service, regardless of their age. At 46, Coltrane plans to work a minium of 12 years in Suffolk, which will make him 58 when he retires ``for good.''
A Portsmouth native, Coltrane served a brief stint in the U.S. Army and worked almost two years as a boilmaker at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard before joining the Portsmouth Fire Department in 1974.
Three years later, at age 27, Coltrane saved four boys from a burning house in Newtown. The incident merited a short story in Currents, but Coltrane never received an award for his actions. Nor did he expect one.
``It was just part of my job,'' he said.
That's part of the reason why Coltrane was so surprised to be named this year's Firefighter of the Year for Portsmouth. The announcement was made two weeks ago, just three weeks after Coltrane started his new job in Suffolk.
``When they ended up calling my name, I was really touched by it,'' he said. ``I had no idea.''
Coltrane, who lives just over the Portsmouth city line in Chesapeake Estates, was nominated for the honor by fellow firefighter Gary Lassiter.
``He's probably one of the best firefighters the city's ever had,'' said Lassiter, 27, who has known Coltrane since starting with the department eight years ago. ``It was a shame we lost him to retirement and to Suffolk.''
Lassiter's motivation for nominating his former colleague for the award had as much to do with Coltrane's activities outside the firestation as inside, he said.
In his nomination letter, Lasite recognized Coltrane for his years of dedication to and involvement in youth sports. For decades, Coltrane has served as both a coach and an offical in football, baseball and basketball leagues.
``There are some firemen in here now, younger guys, who've had him as a coach at one time or another,'' Lassiter said. ``He's been a role model for just about everybody who comes in.''
Lassiter also credited Coltrane with having the ability to keep morale high among firefighters.
``He's fun to be around,'' Lassiter said. ``He's always laughing, joking, having a good time, but when we go out on a fire scene, he knows his job.''
According to Lassiter, the Firefighter of the Year award is typically given to a firefighter who has put his life on the line in order to save others.
``But that's pretty much our job,'' Lassiter said. ``That's what we do. And you shouldn't give somebody an award for doing their job.
``To me, it should be based on what you do outside the station,'' he said. ``What you do besides your job should count.''
Name: Durand Coltrane
Nickname: ``Jap''
Number of years in Portsmouth: 33.
Birthplace: Moore County, N.C.
Birthdate: Sept. 28, 1950.
Occupation: Retired Portsmouth firefighter now employed with the Suffolk Fire Department.
What job other than your own would you like? None. I just love what I do.
Marital status: Married to C. Angi Coltrane for 24 years.
Children: Durand O. Coltrane, 23 and Lakicia P. Coltrane, 21.
Grandchildren: None.
Fondest childhood memory: Taking pears from Ms. Skipper's tree at night. Ms. Skipper was a good friend of my mother's and a neighbor.
First concert: Kool And The Gang at Norfolk Arena in 1964.
What song or book title best describes your life? ``Working Hard for My Money'' by Donna Summer.
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you would buy? I would first help my mother and my aunt do a little better with life's expenses.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I would trade places with the homeplate umpire in the Little League World Series because umpiring the Little League World Series has always been a goal of mine.
Biggest accomplishment: Continuing to watch my two children grow up and become honest, law-abiding and intelligent citizens with many goals and aspirations.
Most embrassing moment: While playing in my first Little League baseball game, I was put into the game to catch. The pitcher was getting ready to throw the ball when the shin strap on my leg protectors came loose. As I started to fix my strap, I got hit by the thrown ball and I began to cry.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To have more patience while standing in lines at the grocery or department store.
Perfect way to spend the day: The perfect day for me would be watching a Little League baseball, football or basketball game.
I can't resist: Fresh bread.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Clayton's Seafood Restaurant.
Favorite Portsmouth handout: Portside is where I visit more than any other place.
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: There are too many young people being killed by handguns.
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be? Reduce crime. Increase the quality of education for all children. Improve race relations.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about Portsmouth? When I lived in Portsmouth, I never had to travel far to get to where I was going.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
KEYWORDS: by CNB