Family lures FD 13 volunteer Gary Ladd to Texas

Volunteering has paid off handsomely and repeatedly for Gary Ladd, the rewards proving every bit as valuable as a paycheck.

"It's been fun," Ladd stresses, citing the sense of self-fulfillment realized from public service.

Over the past decade, Ladd has lent his time and expertise to Skagit County Fire District 13, Skagit Bay Search & Rescue and the Shelter Bay residential community, filling a variety of roles for each.

"I always had the spirit for volunteerism, but never had the time," said Ladd, who once sailed solo across the Pacific Ocean from Bikini Atoll to Ketchikan – a 40-day voyage through horrific winds and seas.

That changed when he and wife Cindy arrived in Shelter Bay in 2014.

Now, though, the couple's time here is ending.

The Ladds plan to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to be near their oldest daughter and her family. They have put their house and boat on the market.

"It's been a good run," Ladd said. "I've enjoyed every minute."

Ladd is a fire captain who administered the popular "Good Morning, District 13" program and for many years chaired the Shelter Bay safety committee. Through District 13, Ladd has overseen the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) mobile command trailer, served as the emergency operations center communications operator under trustee Andrew Lester and with Lester and Capt. Ted Taylor promoted and implemented the solarization project at the Snee-Oosh Road fire station.

He has also coordinated numerous emergency and disaster training exercises at District 13, including drills last March to prepare residents for a major windstorm.

Ladd said he trained to become an emergency medical technician because he was "trying to support the community."

That training enabled Ladd in 2015 to save his wife's life when she suffered a massive heart attack.

Ladd said responding to emergency calls in Shelter Bay, where senior citizens comprise a significant percentage of the population, was the inspiration behind Good Morning, District 13, a proactive program in which on-duty crews check on the welfare of residents. It now operates under the CARES (Community Assistance Referral and Education Services) umbrella.

"Good Morning, District 13 was probably the biggest thing I did with the fire district," Ladd reflected. "When I was an EMT, there was a lady who had been down in her home for three days and no one had checked on her. We got her to the hospital and she survived. But with our community having a lot of seniors I thought that we really needed to do something."

Retired district fire chief Roy Horn supported the concept, said Ladd.

"He came up with the name," Ladd noted. "It was a take-off from the movie (title) 'Good Morning, Vietnam.' I worked with Roy on it and we thought it would be a good thing.

"Over the years," Ladd said, "over 100 people signed up for Good Morning, District 13. It's been a great program."

Ladd brought to the fire district administrative and organizational skills honed from his work career. The timing couldn't have been better. District 13 was then moving to paid shifts and developing an ambulance service.

Even so, Ladd's plate still wasn't filled. In 2016, under the tutelage of Art Kaplan and Marcie Miles, he joined Skagit Bay Search & Rescue, where Ladd rose to training officer and vice-president.

"I love the water," Ladd told the Weekly News. "The transition to Skagit Bay Search & Rescue has been fantastic, to be out on the water and helping people in that way."

In addition, he logged a stint on the Shelter Bay board of directors, during which time Ladd facilitated sometimes spirited forums addressing key issues including but not limited to a path for securing a new long-term lease agreement with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Ladd has likewise been active with Christ the King Church, a relationship that directly led to his service with District 13.

"I attended a men's breakfast at the Farmhouse Inn," Ladd recounted, "when I met Ted Taylor. He graciously invited me to join the fire department. Ted Taylor got me involved with the fire department. What a great man, an amazing man. He's been such a good mentor and friend."

Taylor, 94, remains the district's go-to contact for all things related to emergency management.

Looking ahead, Ladd anticipates yet unknown adventures. Ironically, that puts him on familiar turf.

"I grew up all over the world," said Ladd. He was born in the San Francisco Bay area and has lived in the United Kingdom, Belgium and North Africa. He ultimately landed in the Pacific Northwest, studying kinesiology at the University of Washington.

"Cindy and I love the Pacific Northwest," Ladd said, "the hiking, the water, everything about it and, of course, our friends."

But their family in Texas beckons.

"They're looking forward to us being there," said Ladd. "Our daughter said she's never had family near her in Texas. The grandkids are excited about us being there."

Still, it won't be easy letting go.

"It's been a fun adventure here," he said. "It's sad to think we'll be walking away from it now. But we're glad to have had the opportunity to live here. And glad we've gotten to know so many great people."