“HOMETOWN HEROESA regular feature about people on South Whidbey who are making a difference in the quality of life for their friends, family, neighbors or others they may never have even met. To nominate people for consideration, send us a note with their names and your name, plus a way to contact them and a description of the reason for their nomination. Write to The Record, P.O. Box 387, Langley, WA 98260.Meet Paul BuschPaul Leland Busch, born august 20, 1946 in Seattle, in a family with four brothers. Married to Penny BuschYears on Whidbey: 20Employment: Assistant Fire Chief here on South WhidbeyFavorite pastimes: Spending time with wife Penny, grown children and grandchildren. Fishing and flyfishing.Community service: Volunteering endless hours with the South Whidbey Fire district, helping make this community a safer place.Future goals: To continue volunteering for the Fire Department even after retirement, “for as long as I’m able.”What does it mean to live out a life of dedication?To whom or what do you dedicate your life?The actions of this month’s Hometown Hero, Paul Busch, demonstrate a life dedicated to his family, serving others in need and treating all people with equal kindness and respect.“The number of volunteer hours that Paul dedicates serving this community on his off days is astronomical,” said Paula Schuler, Fire District 3 secretary. “Paul gives selfless dedication to the training of the emergency volunteers, helping to make this a safer community for all.”He is dedicated to this program second only to his family, his first love: wife Penny, their adult children and their grandchildren. And when he blends his family with fishing, “Well, that’s heaven,” he said with his engaging smile.Darin Reid, longtime fire department volunteer, agrees that Busch is totally devoted to his family and dedicated to helping his community. But that alone, Reed says, is not what makes him a hero.“It’s his character, his willingness to clean up the messes no one else will,” Reed said. “He’s always the main cog behind the scene, but never needing praise or recognition.”Fire District 3 Chief Don Smith notes that Busch works patiently with the volunteers, extending himself way beyond the call of duty in supporting them. “He is a big part of the reason that our volunteer program is so successful,” Smith said. And as he talked about Busch, he noted that his assistant chief was at that moment upstairs volunteering another full day on his time off.Paula Schuler said the chief once told Busch if he showed up at the station again on his day off he’d have him clean the underside of a fire engine with a toothbrush. But nothing seems able to stop a dedicated and devoted human being. They’re simply doing what they love.“I’m very fortunate to be able to help through the fire department,” Busch said. “And that my family is support of my work,” he added. “But my work is no more important than anyone else’s.”Whatever line of work people are engaged in, paid or volunteer, everyone has the opportunity to help others, he said. Whether serving behind a counter or engaged in a high-paying position, you’re a hero as long as you are dedicated to doing your best and to treating all with respect and kindness.There are many reasons people deserve our respect, Busch said. “When we arrive at the scene of an accident we treat the most seriously injured first. It doesn’t matter what kind of automobile you drive, nor what title you hold, nor the color of your skin — everyone’s blood is the same color,” Busch said.He has a low tolerance for people who think they are better than others. And if they do so because they hold a “higher” position in life, he feels that attitude is an abuse of power.“No one is better or worse than anyone else, no matter what. Some are better ‘off,’ but no one is better ‘than,’” Busch said.Adeline Thornquist, a recipient of 911 responses, says Busch is “so humble and compassionate, he never makes you feel silly or dumb.” Since she has been widowed, she said, “It’s so comforting to know that Paul, his wife Penny too, and all the wonderful volunteers are available to help. Paul is one of God’s angels.”Not everyone is as happy to see Busch come to their aid. Not long ago he arrived to help in an accident only to find a belligerent drunk driver who yelled and spit in his face.Busch calmly restrained the person enough to tend to his wounds, treating the patient with respect as much as humanly possible.Busch has a low tolerance for drinking and driving. Many innocent people either lose their lives or are permanently maimed because of it, he said.“If a person were dedicated to treating all life as precious and to the well-being of others, they never would drive under the influence,” Busch said.You can tell when someone like Paul Busch is totally committed to a cause or a philosophy, said fire department volunteer Bev Helland. Busch always does the best job possible and gladly gives up even his beloved fishing to do it, never complaining, because he’s committed. He never needs thanks or recognition. He’s simply dedicated to helping others in need. “