Bill Lowe describes himself as a "very well organized person," but a quick review of his recent accomplishments gives that phrase the flavor of understatement.

The Fayette resident recently was named "National EMT/Paramedic of the Year" by EMS Magazine and Braun Industries, ambulance manufacturers. Lowe is an EMS captain/shift supervisor with the Clayton County Fire Department.

During 1997-98, according to the nomination documents for the national honor, Lowe pursued a doctorate degree, took classes for his second bachelor's degree, taught promotion preparation classes during his off days for fire and EMS personnel, collected Christmas toys for needy children, trained Rainbow House staff members who care for abused and neglected children, was awarded several public safety scholarships, organized the purchase of over $10,000 in training equipment for Clayton County, taught college courses and managed to spend time with his wife and two children.

The 19-year veteran of the Clayton department says he did not start out life as the ball-of-fire he's become. He said he was a lackadaisical student at the old M.D. Collins High School in College Park, delighting in taking "distributive education" because the program allowed him to leave school early for work in the afternoons.

It was through D.E. that he got his first look at emergency services, when a member of the Red Oak Volunteer Fire Department came to the school for a job fair.

"At that time, you could be a volunteer firefighter at 16," he says, "so I was. The Red Oak unit was my work program toward the end of high school, and it beat peeling and wrapping potatoes in the steakhouse where I had worked since I was 14."

He actually became an Emergency Medical Technician before he graduated, taking the courses, testing and becoming state certified in March before his June 1979 graduation. He went to work for Clayton County that July. Lowe did admit to having to skip some high school classes to clear such hurdles as the Civil Service Test, polygraph, applications, etc.

"I think my experience with the volunteer fire department gave me an advantage," he said, "but I did have to keep my grades up too."

Now, learning and teaching are so much a part of Bill Lowe that his family and friends remain amazed at his accomplishments. He holds an associate degree in fire safety technology from DeKalb College, a BS in management from Shorter College in Rome, a BS in fire protection engineering from the University of Cincinnati, an MBA from Brenau University in Gainesville, and is working on a doctorate in human resources management from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Except for the several prestigious scholarships he's earned, Lowe spends his own time and money traveling for his education. He recently began teaching management courses at Shorter. However, in Clayton County he's better known for what he has done for needy children and for Rainbow House.

Lowe and Clayton Commissioner Virginia Gray organized a toy drive for homeless and poor children, drawing the attention of metro news media and exceeding their wildest expectations. Toys were given last Christmas to more than 265 of the neediest children, most from Clayton but some from outside the county as well.

He and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 17 years and have two children, Bobby and Rebecca. Bobby is a sophomore at Fayette County High School.

About 10 years ago, when Cathy was expecting Rebecca (now in fourth grade at Fayette Elementary), the couple began looking for a larger house. Unable to find what they wanted in Clayton, they made what Bill called a "tough decision" to move to Fayette. They haven't regretted the move, however, becoming active at North Fayette United Methodist Church and with other local groups.

"I'm a big fan of Bill's," Cathy says with affection. "I don't worry about him when he's on the job, and I'm very proud of what he's done."