Like many children, Schrum was fascinated by firefighters, and so it was no surprise when he joined the volunteer fire department during his senior year of high school in 1983. Since then, he’s become a leader in the department, serving as captain for seven years. Schrum holds the rank of battalion chief, overseeing three stations and 60 firefighters in a community of 45,000 residents. He says being awakened at 3 a.m. to go to a house fire or respond to a traffic accident are just part of the job. “If I didn’t go, then who would?” he says.
In addition to being a 2000 Good Neighbor Award Honoree, Matthew Schrum is also a 2001 Good Neighbor Award Winner.
