2/7/08
Breedin marks more than 30 years as one of county’s finest
By Jerriod Grizzle

Alfred Breedin is one of Clarendon County’s finest firefighters with 34 years with the Manning Fire Department and 30 years with the Clarendon County Fire Department as a volunteer.

Breedin was honored for service last December at the Clarendon County Firefighters banquet in December.

“I’ve seen a lot and now my primary support role is in ground support stopping traffic,” he said. “I enjoy it, is in my blood.”

Breedin said that over the years he has seen a difference that his life makes and he is happy to do his job of helping out his community.

“The most memorable calls over the years have been getting people out of cars, extraction because they have been involved in wrecks and also helping put people in helicopters,” said Breedin.

However, he said that his job of being one of America’s heroes does come with an emotional cost.

“You see kids that have passed away and those that have had smoke inhalation, they don’t make it and that hurts … it is very personal,” he said. “Death hurts.”

Despite the strain, Breedin said that he would keep working with the county department as long as he is physically able.

Breedin said his experience comes in handy often because of the bond of the firehouse.

“Everyone works together well for the betterment of the firehouse and the community,” he said. “The younger ones have a lot of respect for the older ones and everyone has such high energy.”

Breedin is a Manning native and graduated from Manning High in 1965.

He then attended Spartanburg Junior College, now Spartanburg Community College and transferring to the University of Georgia where he attained his Bachelor of Arts at the now Grady College of Journalism in 1969.

After attending UGA, Breedin joined the South Carolina Air National Guard with his last duty station at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.

He then went to work for the American Heart Association where he worked as a professional health educator.

Breedin is a member of the Manning United Methodist Church.

Breedin’s life does hold one secret ambition.

“Well, if I was any good with numbers I guess I would be a meteorologist,” he said.