Virginia Beach firefighter retires after 40 years privateofficer VIRGINIA BEACH VA Sept 10 2013 This is how retired Virginia Beach Fire Department Capt. Dan Fentress counts to forty: 11, 12, 7, 5, 8, 6, 13, 19, 16, 21. That translates to four decades of duty at 10 city fire stations. A lanky, softspoken leader, Fentress had been a city firefighter longer than anyone now in the ranks. He worked alongside hundreds of fire fighters and trained countless recruits, including city Fire Chief Steve Cover. “He’d ask to ride on my engine as a junior volunteer,” said Fentress, age 59. Cover said Fentress’ legacy will live on for years to come. “He was a true professional who led from within by his actions and his coaching and mentoring of our younger members.” Fentress was 18, freshly graduated from Kellam High and working on a highway crew, when a co-worker joined the fire department. “He said they had two days off for every day on; made $1,000 more; and issued you your own pillow and blanket,” he recalled, laughing. “I went right over but was a year too young.” He volunteered at the courthouse fire station and joined in 1973, at age 19. His rookie days included riding “The Quad,” a 1937, open cab, Seagrave truck. “It carried ladders, water, hoses, a pump, and it was ancient,” Fentress said. “We tried to blow it up every time we took it out, but the thing wouldn’t die.” Fentress, who earned top accolades as Firefighter of the Year in 2012, always loved his job but particularly relished the last seven, when he shared the profession with his son, Master Firefighter Josh Fentress, age 33. Josh Fentress graduated from Kellam High in 1998, received a finance degree from Old Dominion University and joined when he was 25. His first day, as a rookie at Stumpy Lake Station 19, Fentress recognized the kitchen and lockers from childhood visits. “It hit home that I was in my dad’s world,” he said. “He’s a man of huge faith, my best friend, mentor, role model… it was a great feeling.” He currently serves at Woodstock Station 10. Familial love aside, father and son are very competitive. When they throw a football around, they compete for farthest thrower, said Josh Fentress, noting that they push each other in physical training. “Dad would rather die than have me beat him.” Although they worked in different stations, they stayed in touch daily. Dan Fentress had one final request of his superiors. “I asked if Josh could ride my rig on my last shift,” he said. They answered a few alarms, but most time was spent greeting firefighters from around the city who had stopped by to wish him farewell. “A humbling day,” Fentress said. He and his wife, Pam, have enjoyed 37 years of marriage and happily anticipate time with their family: daughter Erin Fentress Gaylord; son-in-law and Hampton firefighter LT Travis Gaylord; grandsons, Leland and Preston Gaylord; and Josh’s wife, Becky Mills Fentress. Dan Fentress plans to work around the house, maybe take up the saxophone, and visit his son at the station. “I’ll stop in for a cup of coffee and hear what’s the latest,” he said. “I sure hope so,” Josh Fentress replied. Source- The Virginia Pilot
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:34:13 +0000
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