Posted Thursday, April 29, 2021

HUNTINGTON – The City of Huntington welcomed its newest firefighter during a swearing-in ceremony Thursday morning at the Huntington City Building.

Cody Barton now becomes the third member of his family to serve on the Huntington Fire Department. Barton’s great-great-grandfather, Ernest Greider, retired after 25 years on the Huntington Fire Department and served as fire chief for more than 15 years. Barton’s great uncle, Steve Mitchell, attained the rank of lieutenant in his 25 years of service.

Those are “big shoes to fill,” Huntington Fire Chief Tony Johnson said in remarks during Thursday’s ceremony.

“Through your career you will be faced with many challenges that will test you, but this career will fill you with a sense of pride knowing that you are called to help people,” Chief Johnson said.

Barton was born and raised in Huntington and is a 2017 graduate of Huntington North High School, where he was involved in football, baseball and swimming. He then attended Purdue University, majoring in film and video studies and playing on the water polo team. He graduated from Purdue in 2020.

Barton will spend 20 weeks attending the Fort Wayne Fire Department Academy starting in June, where he will learn firefighting and hazardous materials skills while also attaining EMT certification.