I was honored to present Firefighter and EMT John Jessop with the 70th Assembly District First Responder of the Year Award during our Assembly floor session last week.

John has honorably served Jackson County for over 45 years, not just as a firefighter and EMT, but as a pillar of strength, mentorship and leadership across generations of first responders and community members. Additionally, he has held multiple leadership roles, including Captain and Assistant Chief, serving under at least five Fire Chiefs. “Big John,” as he’s affectionately and admirably referred to by his colleagues, has also coached youth baseball, T-ball, and hockey for many years. He’s brought fire trucks to daycare visits for fire prevention and unintentionally scared a few kids in the process, per his nomination information. He has lit up parades across Jackson County with his beloved old Tanker 2, bringing joy to families and especially his grandkids.

Thank you, John, for your esteemed and meaningful service to the community, and thank you to all the brave first responders that make a meaningful and impactful difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors throughout the 70th Assembly District!