By BETH CHAPMAN / Community Columnist

“To provide servant leadership to employees, residents and businesses of Pelham,” is one of Mayor Gary Waters’ top priorities. He has not only done that for his city, but for his state and nation, too.

A former fire chief, Waters was elected as mayor of Pelham in August 2012. He is currently serving his first term.

There’s not a whole lot of difference in his former and present occupation – either way, he constantly has to put out fires. The good news is that he is educated, trained, experienced and prepared to do so.

Waters graduated from Baldwin County High School and trained as a military firefighter in the United States Army, where he was also trained as a crash/rescue specialist. He completed the paramedic program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Army Officer’s Candidate School at Fort McClellan.

Waters was honorably discharged from the Army after 3 years of service and has served as a firefighter in the City of Bay Minette before serving and being appointed firefighter lieutenant with the City of Pelham. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Alabama Army National Guard and retired after 24 years of service with the rank of captain. He was the rifle platoon leader, Company B, 167th Infantry in Pelham and appointed fire chief, retiring after 24 years of service.

Pelham is centrally located in the state and offers unique attractions such as the Verizon Music Center (formerly Oak Mountain Amphitheater), the Pelham Racquet Club, Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena and Oak Mountain State Park. Pelham’s Public golf club, Ballantrae, is noted for its beauty and location.

Waters is a living organ donor and is married to Lynn Edington-Waters. They have three children: Kyle, Zachary and Emilee. They also have two grandchildren.