HOUSTON – Two decades before Houston would learn his name as one of our four fallen heroes, Bobby Garner was a blonde-haired boy looking for a male role model.
Local 2's Bill Balleza featured Garner on an "Our Wednesday's Child" segment in June of 1991. Garner was just seven years old at the time.
"I don't have any other boys to play with," said Garner in the interview with Balleza.
Bobby had just finished the first grade when he met up with Balleza as part of the weekly series for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Balleza even spoke with Bobby's mother, Cydnee, the year before when one of her daughters was featured on the same series.
"I think it'll be good for Bobby to have a healthy male role model," said Cydnee. "I mean, he's a little outnumbered with three of us (girls) around."
Bobby would be outnumbered more when another sister came into the picture.
At Wednesday's public memorial service for the four firefighters who died in the Southwest Inn blaze on May 31, the oldest of his three sisters, Nicole, spoke fondly of her brother. She said he was funny, compassionate and giving.
She reflected on the day Bobby called her to say his dream of becoming a firefighter was coming true.
"All he said was I got in," Nicole said at the service. "I didn't have to ask. I could tell by the way he was choked up that it had to be the letter from the fire academy that he had been waiting on. He was so proud of that letter. I could just picture the big Kool-aid grin he had across his face. He was so excited that he was finally going to be able to realize his dreams."
Graduating second in his fire academy class, Garner worked hard to prove himself to the more seasoned members of his fire station.
"It didn't take long for everyone at the station to realize we got one of the best ones out there," said Mark Van Berschot from Fire Station 68. "And after a couple years, we realized maybe he truly was the best."
Van Berschot said he took the rookie under his wing, showing him the ropes. He said Garner worked tirelessly and wore a smile like it was his uniform.
"I know, me personally, I want to be a better person and better firefighter because of him," Van Berschot said.
A young boy looking for a role model ended up getting several when he joined the Houston Fire Department in 2010.
Garner told his big sister shortly before his death that he knew he'd found his calling.
"He said this is what I'm supposed to do with my life," said Nicole. "I know for sure that I"m going to do this until I can't, or until the day I die."
We now know Bobby Garner not only found his calling, but he had become the role model he once longed to have in life.
"What kind of big brother do you want?" Balleza asked him in the 1991 interview.
"I put on my list I want one with a hairy chest and big hands," said Bobby, laughing.
"Sounds like he'd be a real man," said Balleza.
Without hesitation, Bobby simply replied "Yep."
In addition to serving Houston, Garner also courageously served our country by serving two tours of duty in Iraq.
The Garner family brought the 1991 story with Garner to the attention of Local 2. It was broadcast with their blessing the same week they laid their hero to rest.