Fire Chief for the City of Oakland, Teresa Deloach Reed, takes the field with the Raiders captains.
Photo by Tony Gonzales*
Teresa Deloach Reed, Fire Chief for the City of Oakland, was selected as the GovX Hero of the Game for the Raiders match-up with the Broncos in Week 17.
"I am the Fire Chief for the City of Oakland and that means I have the responsibility for providing emergency services to the city," said Reed. "The City of Oakland has 25 fire stations, encompassing 25 engines, seven truck companies. We have a total of around 500 personnel and so all of those I'm responsible for managing and ensuring we're out in the streets with the proper equipment to provide safety for the citizens of Oakland."
Reed greatly appreciated the Raiders recognition of service people each and every home game through the GovX Hero of the Game coin toss. "When individuals are in a profession that they're out there sacrificing every day – the military, the fire service – that they are out there sacrificing themselves for others, I just think it's great. I don't know if we recognize and embrace our service people enough. I don't know if we can say 'thank you' to them enough, but to give them this opportunity I just think is fantastic."
The Oakland Fire Chief was happy to represent her department and her family at the Raiders final game of the season. "It's really exciting for me, especially from a family that came from seven brothers and one sister and two of my brothers and a nephew all played professional football, so to be this close and personal is just really exciting for me," said Reed. "And just to be able to represent Oakland Fire Department is also exciting."
Reed participated in the coin toss with the Raiders captains – FB Marcel Reece, DE Lamarr Houston, LS Jon Condo and TE Jeron Matrud. Prior to taking the field, Reed expressed her excitement for the opportunity. "It's going to be great," said Reed. "I have my son out here with me and I think he's going to say, 'wow, that's my mom.' So I'm looking forward to it."
