Today about 6:15, Murrieta lost one of it's most well liked public figures. Phil Armentrout, our Fire Chief, lost his bout with cancer and died surrounded by his family.
Phil was one of the first interviews I photographed. Immediately, I was struck by how after 15 minutes, Phil treated me as if we were lifelong friends. I saw Phil alot during the Murrieta Recall period, since we covered City Council Meetings heavily then and he always had a smile, a handshake and a story. He arranged for a reporter and I to shoot inside one of the city's new firetrucks as we sped around the city "testing" the sirens when the city acquired them this year. He was one of my favorite subjects and I wish I had the opportunity to work with him more than I did.
Phil Armentrout was one of the good guys. The world sucks a little more now that he is gone.
