Living

<< Previous   of   Next >> Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Getchell Fire Chief Travis Hots, 33, of Marysville calls for extra aid while responding to a recent accident on Highway 92.   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Michael Crane, tow truck driver 9/21/09 • Matt Drumm, professional percussionist 9/14/09 • Randall Sinn, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Smokey Point 9/7/09 • David Schach, electrician 8/31/09 • Jim Lawless, Edmonds assistant police chief 8/24/09 • Linda Savage, etiquette specialist 8/17/09 » More APTONYMS stories >   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 6, 2009 Travis Hots, Getchell Fire Department chief By Theresa Goffredo, Herald Writer The word is "aptonym." It refers to people whose name suggests key attributes of their jobs, professions or lives. Their names might have, in fact, influenced their lives or careers. It's no surprise that The Herald found lots of these people living in our area. They are vital members of the community, as well as being good sports for playing along. For the next several weeks, we'll be profiling our local aptonyms. If you happen to know an aptonym or are one yourself, send the name to tgoffredo@heraldnet.com. Name: Travis Hots Occupation: Chief of the Getchell Fire Department Age: 33 Hometown: Marysville Q: How did your name direct your career path? A: I'm a second-generation firefighter. My dad was a firefighter for 34 years. He started with the Tulalip Fire District 15 then joined the Marysville Fire Department, and in the early '80s he became a career firefighter with The Boeing Co. But he also spent five years here at Getchell with me. We responded to many house fires together. I knew from as far as back I can remember wanting to be a firefighter, and I remember riding with my dad, taking me on fire calls in his car. And I just always knew that's what I would do. Q: Would you change your name if you could and why or why not? A: No. Absolutely not. I would never change my name. I'm proud of my last name. Q: If you could choose another career, what would it be? A: For a brief time there, I thought of being a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, but always stuck to fire service. I knew I would love this job, and I do love every single day of it. It's the kind of job that I actually speed to get to work. I can't wait to get here. Q: How do you know when someone has picked up on the fact that your name is an aptonym? A: Most people when they see my name in the capacity of doing fire department work, they ask, '"Is that your nickname, because that couldn't possibly be your real name?" I'll get that question at least once a month, or at least something similar to that question. It's pretty funny. A lot of people in fire service do have nicknames, but I never got one. It's just Chief Hots or they just call me Hots. I guess I didn't need one; I already had a nickname. Q: How do people react to the combination of your name and job? Do they get it? Any funny stories as a result? A: People respond in a very lighthearted way with a smile and a chuckle, and they say, "That's a really cool name for a firefighter," and I say, 'Yeah, I think so, too." * * * Take a quiz on some famous aptonyms and follow the series at www.heraldnet.com/aptonyms. Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, tgoffredo@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Shot ends search for man sought in killing of Seattle police officer 2. Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton 3. No charge will be filed in death of Everett pedestrian 4. Rain, thunderstorms forecast for lowlands 5. Bothell steamrolls Stanwood 6. PREP FOOTBALL/SWIMMING ROUNDUP: Halfback pass for touchdown sparks Sultan win 7. More jibba-jabba 8. Obama OK's homebuyer tax credit 9. Suspect identified in Seattle police killing 10. Dana nibbles into Somers’ lead 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Gough on track to keep job • Jazz vocalist headlines NPAC • Mountlake Terrace makes football history • Tax revenue sagging, city budgets lagging • ‘Touch of Magic' show opens at Gallery North • Jackson repeats as South champs • Holiday Bazaars Calendar • Meadowdale storms back to grab title • Edmonds moves to Fire District 1 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million