50 Years A Hero : Angus VFD Chief Jerry Newsom

50 Years a Hero: Jerry Newsom, Angus Volunteer Fire Chief
By Emilie Parten, Reporter on the Rove

Jerry Newsom was only fourteen when the Angus Volunteer Fire Department was established. He was a member from its inception, fighting fires, attending to vehicle accidents, and lending a helping hand despite being too young to even have a driver’s license, on a retrofitted dump truck donated to the department by the county. Now the 64-year-old is still out on the truck with no intentions of stopping.

The father of two and his wife, Kim have made volunteering a way of life, working at their own shop, Jerry’s Custom Graphics, closing up when the call comes in. Jerry’s life has seen many stages, working for years as a TX dot surveyor until his retirement, being elected as Angus City Mayor and now, as he runs his own graphics business, he is also acting chief of the Angus Fire Department. But what could have compelled him to join such a dangerous job at such a young age?
“My family taught me to do service for the people,” Jerry stated, “and I guess, probably, that is the main reason, just to help out. Just about every kid wants to be a police man, a fireman or something.”
Going from a long night at a scene and directly into work the next morning was a regular occurrence for the Newsom’s, though Jerry admits there are somethings he just cannot do as well now as he did when he was younger but his duties as fire chief have their own set of challenges. Being a small department, applying for grants seems fruitless but Jerry has a positivity to him that defies the odds. He is very much a “shoot your shot” kind of person, applying for many grants in spite of the unlikeliness which has granted the Angus Fire Department some surprising rewards. Out of the 900 departments that applied for a grant that would give them a brand-new truck, the Angus Fire Department ranked number 11, and 11 $750,000 grants were awarded. The Angus Fire Department’s new truck is currently being built and is expected to be in service by the end of July 2025.
It is safe to say that Jerry and his team stay busy. In the last year alone, the Angus VFD has received more than two hundred calls, at least half of which are vehicle accidents predominantly on Interstate 45, where speeds and other outside factors can easily lead to tragedy. “I want to be able to say we went, we did it, we came home, and everyone was safe doing it. That is what it is all about.” Jerry has good reason to be proactive about safety, having seen his fair share of bad situations that could have been avoided if the parties involved had practiced more cautious behaviors, such as abiding by the “MOVE OVER” laws which state drivers should slow down to 20 below the posted limit and provide a lane for emergency vehicles to get through. Because so many people have begun ignoring this vitally important law, the fire departments have had to resort to utilizing their extremely expensive trucks as blockers to protect the firefighters and other first responders from inconsiderate or inattentive drivers.
Jerry and his crew also understand that the job does not stop once the accident has been cleared, or the fire put out. Due to the uniquely emotional nature of the job, the men and women go through the stresses of knowing there are some things that cannot be changed, dealing with feelings similar to the families of those involved in horrific situations. The amazing people on the Angus VFD lend support to families suffering through hard times, creating fundraisers for medical bills and so many other things outside of the job itself. With a deeply ingrained sense of duty, Jerry will lend a helping hand until he simply cannot anymore.
To give back to these amazing individuals who dedicate so much of their time to assisting the community, be sure to attend the upcoming fundraisers for the Volunteer departments.
Fire Safety courses will be available at the Home Depot on October 5th.
Blooming Grove’s fundraiser is on October 5th at 5PM.
Silver City’s fundraiser is on October 19th at 6PM.
Barry Fire Department’s fundraiser is on November 2nd at 5PM
Angus VFD’s fundraiser is scheduled for November 9th at 5PM.
All fundraisers will be held at their respective fire stations. The Angus VFD also accepts stuffed animal donations for children involved in car accidents. Be like Jerry. Never be afraid to lend a hand.

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