Volunteering is an important part of many people’s lives. People often take causes they feel strongly about and throw themselves into it wholeheartedly, making a difference for the organization and the lives that that organization touches.

 Bill Broadus is one such volunteer. After getting bored with retirement after 37 years as a firefighter in Mobile, Broadus has figured out a way to turn his partiality for fire departments and his love of auctioneering into a way to give back.

“I enjoy auctions. I’m an auction go-er,” Broadus said. “I enjoy being an auctioneer. I have a ball at it. I love it.”

 After 15 years in retirement and visiting numerous auctions over those years, Broadus, a Stapleton resident, decided to try the other side of it and went to school in Florida for auctioneering.

Now, he is able to run benefits and fundraiser auctions for groups that need his help. He does a lot of work for area fire departments, but he also works with schools, charity organizations, and anyone else that needs his help.

 “Fire departments need a way to raise money. I’m kind of partial to the fire department so I help them anyway I can,” he said, adding that he’ll go anywhere to help any fire department that needs help.

 Over the years, Broadus has also volunteered in other ways. He volunteered as the Stapleton Fire Chief off and on from 1985 to 2003. He was a Scout Master with the Boy Scouts and coached baseball, football and girls’ softball over the years when his children were young.