THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240151
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: Doris Townsley
LENGTH: 79 lines
Becoming a firefighter. It's what many young children dream of. And Steve Moore, a 33-year-old member of Portsmouth's Fire Department, was no exception.
``I think that just about everybody does,'' he said. ``When you're small, usually that's the first thing you want to be, or one of the two things - a police officer or a firefighter. I just never really thought I would grow up to be one.''
But that is exactly what he did. And during the seven years that he has served as a firefighter so far, Moore, whose home away from home is Station 10 on Victory Boulevard, has found his job enjoyable.
``I like to be working with the community,'' he said, ``and I like the variety that comes with the job. It's never really the same. Every day is something different. We do everything from helping people to getting cats out of trees.''
Yes, getting cats out of trees. They still do that, Moore said, but he admitted that getting a cat out of a tree is not always a pleasant experience. Once, he was even attacked by the cat he was attempting to rescue.
But the job has another payoff. ``It's very rewarding, helping people in distress,'' he said. ``The ultimate reward is hauling kids out when they're really hurt.''
Although he has not yet had to rescue a hurt child, it's no wonder that Moore, who also owns Cuts Galore, a barber shop in Newport News, feels that this act would be most rewarding. He has a soft spot when it comes to children.
``I do a lot of little things for the kids over at the barber shop,'' he said. ``If they come in and they have gotten good grades on their report cards, they get free haircuts and movie passes.''
Because of this, Moore said, children are always coming into his shop showing him their report cards.
``This one kid is kind of wearing me out, though,'' Moore said, smiling. ``He stays on the honor roll.''
Moore plans to join Big Brothers-Big Sisters of South Hampton Roads, an agency that matches volunteers with children, ages 6 to 15, from single-parent families.
``For years I was always telling myself I was going to do it, I was going to do it,'' said Moore. ``So right after the New Year, I made it one of my New Year's resolutions. I'm in the process right now."
Name: Steven A. Moore
Nickname: Trinny
Neighborhood: Churchland
Number of years in Portsmouth: 9
Birthplace: Bronx, N.Y.
Birthdate: June 5, 1963
What other job than your own would you like? Radio personality
Marital status: Married
Children/Grandchildren: None
Fondest childhood memory: Going to the Yankees' games
What song title best describes your life? ``If I Ruled the World''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? Investments for my closest friends and family
If you could trade places with anyone in the world for just one day, who would it be, and why? Mandela, to see how it feels to go from prisoner to president.
Biggest accomplishment: Becoming a business owner
Most embarrassing moment: I locked myself out of my truck with the firefighter tags on it.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To have more patience
Perfect way to spend the day: Kicking back and listening to Calypso music
I can't resist: Curry chicken
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: The Max
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: The Commodore
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Lack of businesses
What do you like about living in Portsmouth? Little traffic congestion, easy accessibility ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
When he's not putting out fires or rescuing cats from trees, Steve
Moore, 33, is helping children.