The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Saying goodbye
Fire chief says he's still having fun after 37 years
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007
In the middle of a snowstorm in mid-November 1945, Dr. Marsha Potter of Ypsilanti delivered a healthy baby boy to a couple living in Willow Run Village. The father was from Tennessee and the mother was from Kentucky, and the boy grew up to serve the Ypsilanti community for most of his adult life.
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Now James Roberts is retiring after more than 37 years with the Ypsilanti Fire Department.
Roberts lived at 1224 Savoy Court, which is now part of the No. 1 green at the Green Oaks Golf Course, until he was 12 years old. The family then moved to Rambling Road, but stayed in Ypsilanti. Roberts graduated from Willow Run High School and began work at Ford Motor Co.
Roberts had been classified as 1A when he signed up for the draft, so he figured he would enlist and have some say as to where he went during the Vietnam War. He ended up assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group, a unit of the Green Berets. He also spent time assigned to the 6th Special Forces Group, also a Green Beret unit.
Roberts spent 17 months in Vietnam, coming home in May 1968.
"After all that time living in the open, when I went back to Ford I felt trapped," he said.
Roberts tested for the Ypsilanti Fire De-partment and learn-ed he had been accepted in late March 1969.
"My first day on the job was April Fool's Day," he said. "That week, I changed jobs, changed cars, moved into a new home and got married. It was a little crazy."
Roberts never let a little craziness stop him. He had found his calling. In 1971, he was a part of the charter Emergency Medical Technicians class in Michigan. The training allowed the department to offer rescue services, as well as fire-fighting.
"That first year, we had 16 calls all year," Roberts said. "We get 2,300 to 2,400 calls a year now."
In 1975, he was promoted to inspector and in 1983 became the fire marshal and building inspector.
"I inspected buildings for 18 and a half years," Roberts said. "One of the things I'm proudest of is Ordinance 624, which put in place mandatory inspections of rental properties.
"The landlords were against it. It took a lot of work and a lot of meetings, but it passed. Because of it, housing values in Ypsilanti appreciated. And it saved lives."
In 1987, Roberts was appointed fire chief and has held the position ever since. "It's been almost 38 years and I'm still having fun," Roberts said with a grin.
"We have a great team here. I've been a team leader all my life and I believe in the team concept. It's been a privilege to work with the men and women of this department. I'm thankful I was given the opportunity."
Roberts worked hard to get the recently announced grant to buy a new aerial truck for the department. "It's kind of my parting gift to the city," he said. "I didn't want to walk away, but it was time."
Roberts said he was honored to have been chosen to replace the retiring Garvin Smith in Superior Township. "It's a great opportunity. I have the chance to replace a great guy, Garvin Smith, and work with another great guy, [Township Supervisor] Bill McFarlane. I couldn't turn it down."
The Superior Township position is part-time and Roberts said he will still be involved in Washtenaw County activities. He is currently chairman of the county HazMat Response Authority, an organization that Roberts has been with since its inception in 2000.
He also serves as vice-chair of the county's Homeland Security Task Force and is chairman of the county's Committee for Exploring Central Dispatch.
Looking back on his career, Roberts said, "I have no regrets. I would have liked to have had more money, but everyone wants that. And I'd have liked to have gotten more of the restitution from the state for protecting Eastern [Michigan University], but within this department I have no regrets.
"I got to do what I wanted to do and I got to work with great men and women while I was doing it. Who could ask for more?"
Roberts said he had a lot of faith in the city and its ability to survive. "I'm impressed we get the kind of people like [Police Chief] Matt Harshberger. I'd like of like to stay and work with him for another two or three years. He's going to do great things for Ypsilanti," Robert said. "But if I stayed, the opening in Superior Township wouldn't be there."
Robert said he hoped the city would first look within the department for his replacement. "We have the best of the best here. There's no need to look outside for someone who will be here for a few years and move on. These people are dedicated to Ypsilanti and that's what we need."
Roberts has one daughter, one son, one stepdaughter, one stepson and three grandchildren. Pictures of the grandchildren flashed on his computer screen during the interview.
He lives with his wife, Bonnie, and "a puppy and two cats." He said he hopes to spend more time with his family now that he will have more free time.
When asked to sum up his style of leadership, Roberts said, "Do what you've told them you'll do, in the time you said you'd do it. That's the only way I know to build trust."
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