Since the founding of the Orange County Fire Authority in 1995, Stanton City Councilman David Shawver has served continuously for 20 years; he is the only board member to do so.
In presenting Shawver with a 20-year plaque, OCFA Board Chair Al Murray likened Shawver to baseball player Cal Ripken Jr., who played 21 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, setting a record for the most consecutive games played.
Since the founding of the Orange County Fire Authority in 1995, Stanton City Councilman David Shawver has served continuously for 20 years; he is the only board member to do so.
In presenting Shawver with a 20-year plaque, OCFA Board Chair Al Murray likened Shawver to baseball player Cal Ripken Jr., who played 21 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles, setting a record for the most consecutive games played.
"And your consecutive years of service-streak are still going strong," said Murray, as he praised Shawver for his "Keen insight and depth of institutional knowledge, which are critical assets to how we function. Your ability to come up with great, often out-of-the box ideas, and your quick wit and wonderful sense of humor have set a standard to which we all aspire."
Shawver said he started in the late 1980s as a representative of the Orange County Fire Department, which in 1994 formed the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) with other cities and became the OCFA.
"I had an interest and so transitioned from the JPA to the OCFA," said Shawver. "I have always had an interest in making sure the City of Stanton and its residents had the best protective service available, and as of today, the OCFA is recognized throughout the country as one of the top fire services in the nation."
Shawver said he remembers his first OCFA meeting back in 1994, that was held in the old fire station (still standing) in the City of Orange on Water Street.
"We met at card tables with folding chairs —and what I've noticed in my 20 years, is the problems we had in 1990 are the same as we currently have to solve, such as ambulance service, response times, firemen training and governance of OCFA. Nothing has really changed over the years —it's cyclical —history repeats itself," he said.
Shawver said the accomplishments he is most proud of include that he is the only member left of the original board and that he has continually served as the representative for Stanton.
"I'm pleased to have helped with the selection of the new Fire Chief Jeff Bowman and pleased to have helped form the first-ever human resource committee working with the rank and file of the OCFA."
What has he accomplished working with OCFA? He said he's most proud of helping create a Regional Fire Authority to serve the entire unincorporated area of Orange County, plus the 25 cities, and bringing it into national prominence.
Shawver continues to serve as chairman of the Human Resources Committee and on the OCFA executive board.
"I appreciate that our City Council has always allowed me to stay and serve on the board, representing the citizens of Stanton, and boy, those 20 years have gone by quickly," he said.
