Buck was born and raised in Yerington Nevada. He moved to Cedar City Utah in 1979. In 1992, a good friend of Buck’s introduced him to the Search and Rescue Team. Buck has held every Officers seat available, including Commander, Captain, Sargent, and Lieutenant. He now holds the position of Quartermaster.
In the 30 years Buck has been involved with the team, he has seen first-hand how the advancements of technology have improved the ability for the team to rescue individuals more efficiently. Early on in his time with the team, the only equipment provided to Volunteers from the Sheriff’s office was mobile (truck to truck) radios. Otherwise, everything else was their own personal vehicles, supplies, equipment, etc. Back then, the volunteers would receive a phone call notifying them of a search and often it was unknown where the individual was lost. For example, they would be told there was a lost person in Iron County. Well…Iron County is a big area to search without a starting point. The team members would split up in different directions (North, South, East West) to begin their search. The radio communication we have known didn’t exist then, there were times when firing a firearm was a means of communication to call everyone back in or notify them that the person was found.
There weren’t many volunteers when Buck started with the team, so it really was all hands-on deck and boots on the ground.
Buck truly appreciates the opportunity to support his community. When asked what drew him to volunteer, he said, he has always felt a passion to help search for individuals and get them back to their families, especially in a volunteer capacity. Over the years Buck has made many close friends that have come and gone, but you really can’t help but make friendships through a community like SAR. Many of his grandchildren look up to his service with the ambition to one day follow in his footsteps. Buck enjoys hunting and fishing in his leisure time but truly values the time he can spend with his family and grandchildren.
