Chaplain Dave Fair of Brownwood was recently nominated by local officials to receive the Citizen Service Before Self Honor, a national honor for America’s “unsung heroes.”
Every day in this country, ordinary Americans become extraordinary. It can happen in an instance of bravery or through a lifetime of placing others before themselves. These acts of courage and selflessness would inspire us all, if only we knew about them. Now, the time has come to stand up and celebrate, in our cities and in our towns, the selfless heroism that symbolizes the American spirit.
Every year, in conjunction with the National Medal of Honor Day (March 25th), three United States citizens will be awarded Citizen Service Before Self Honors near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery. They will receive this award from a group of Americans whose actions have defined the word courage – the members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society who have received our nation’s highest and most prestigious award for valor, the Medal of Honor. The living Medal recipients of this exclusive Society now number fewer than 90.
Please help our nation’s greatest heroes find America’s unsung heroes. Del Albright, Brent Bush and Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Jodie Hohertz have decided to Nominate, Dave Fair.
In a letter composed for his nomination, Hohertz wrote the following:
Chaplain Dave Fair is a former Board Member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, where he served as Chair of the Education Committee. He is a Senior Chaplain for the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Brown County (TX) Sheriff’s Department where is also serves as a reserve deputy. He is Chaplain Emeritus of the Brownwood (TX) Police Department.
Fair is a member of the Board of Scientific and Professional Advisors of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. He has written numerous articles on Chaplaincy and Traumatic Stress. He has had touching articles published by Officer.com and quoted in our local newspaper too many times to mention.
Chaplain Fair is President of the American Association of Police Officers, President and CEO of Homeland Crisis Institute and a licensed peace officer. Chaplain Fair holds a Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling and Psychology from Bethel Bible College and Seminary and a doctorate in Clinical Christian Counseling from Central Christian University. Dr. Fair is a member of the Curriculum Committee of the American Board of Certification in Homeland Security, as well as a member of the Commission on Forensic Education.
Fair serves as Chaplain Coordinator for the Texas State Guard, has been assigned to the 111 EN BN, the JIATF-T, and has been deployed to over a half dozen hurricanes. Also first responder Dave Fair went to Ground Zero days after the attacks to support the recovery effort. Dave has served his city over 24 years as a longtime Brownwood city councilman. He serves as a part of the local AT Planning Team. Fair also serves at the volunteer team leader for our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Brown County. Local representatives, Dave Fair and Sheila Evans, along with Brownwood area schools spearheaded a fundraiser for The Hope for Haiti Medical Mission Team.
On a personal note, Dave Fair is often officiating local funerals, visiting the sick, hurt and sad because of his heart for families. I have personally been in the ER at 3:00am in the morning watching his gentle smile and kind words console families who have just lost a loved one. He has always been supportive for families, fundraisers, church activities, city functions and school activities that go beyond Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He is devoted to his church with the same compassion and dedication. Dave continues to serve others showing confidence and hope for healing and restoration as he is currently fighting cancer himself.
I am proud to send in my nomination for Dave Fair, I feel that he has been an example of patriotism and commitment for our country, our state, and our city.
Pictured above are (left to right): Brownwood Fire Chief Del Albright, Chaplain Dave Fair, Jodie Hohertz, and Brown County Emergency Management Director Brent Bush.
