When he returned home, Tim joined the fire service as a Fireman/EMT and was eventually elected Chief of his small town fire department. During his years as a fireman he began to miss the stage, so he began singing bass for the Southern Gospel group "Southern Spirit" and then later with the "Calvary Boys Trio." Tim was also a frequent cast member of the Lamplite Theater Company in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Tim eventually retired his position as fire chief and relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.