Farewell, Number 9

37-year veteran of Dexter Fire Department stepping down

NOREEN HYSLOP photo One of Dexter Fire Department's finest, Dave Rowe, is calling it quits after nearly four decades with the department.

Dave Rowe is a man of few words, especially when the words involve him personally. The unassuming, charitable 62-year-old Rowe has six times been named Firefighter of the Year during his 37-year career with the Dexter Fire Department. That in itself speaks volumes of the character of the man, since it is voted upon by fellow firefighters each year.

On Wednesday, July 1, 2015, Rowe turns a page in his nearly four-decade career of fighting fires for the Dexter Fire Department. He has gone through the ranks of firefighter, lieutenant, then captain, and he retires as assistant chief. Although he will continue to spend a few hours each week in a part-time position at the station, he has officially entered the world of the retired.

Number 9 of the Dexter Fire Department has been called away from more events that he can recall when the pager worn on his right hip sounded.

"Oh, I've had to leave birthday parties, holiday parties, visiting friends, picnics -- and of course, a good night's sleep," he laughs.

Archived photo: Rowe is shown in the mid-1980s at one of several fire truck demonstrations during Fire Prevention Week at a local preschool. Education, he says, has been one of the best part of firefighting.

A good night's sleep is one of the things Rowe anticipates in the days ahead. For 37 years, he's had his fire gear ready to roll at the sound of his pager's alarm.

"I'm going to keep it for awhile for now," he says. "For 37 years I've been living with it wherever I go. I'm going to have to be weaned away from it."

So, too, will Kay Rowe, Dave's wife of 42 years, whose life has also revolved around the sound of the pager going off in all hours.

"It takes a special woman to be a fireman's wife for that long," Rowe notes. "She's been great with it."

Dave and Kaye Rowe were in their early 20s with three small children when Dave joined the Dexter Fire Department as a volunteer fireman. Dave worked for what at the time was Worley's Implement and John Deere dealership. He worked on engines and was their general "fix-it" man. The skills acquired in that shop would serve him a lifetime and will continue to do so in his retirement years, as he's often called upon to repair engines, large and small.

"I guess fighting fires was in the blood," he says, noting that two of his brothers, Bob and his own twin brother, Dale, were already volunteers.

The fire department at the time had no full time employees. Al Banken served as fire chief, and there was a limited fleet and limited space.

In 1986, Banken brought a proposal before Mayor Willis Conner, asking to hire Rowe as a full time employee. Conner went with the proposal, and Rowe went on board as the department's first full-timer. His list of duties, which Rowe still has in print, included keeping the station clean, washing the trucks and answering the phone. A multitude of other duties became his over his 29 years of full-time employment at the station.

"For 12 years, I was the only one at the station," he notes, "until Al came on full time."

Following Banken full time years later was Todd O'Dell, who remains full-time at the station.

The task of putting out fires has come a long way over nearly four decades, Rowe says. Along with the modern equipment, improved breathing apparatus and communication devices, he cites training as the most significant improvement in firefighting.

"Training is key," Rowe readily states. "Al saw the importance of training early on, and Don (current Fire Chief Don Seymore) recognizes that also."

Training seminars not only for fighting fires, but focusing on hazardous materials, train derailments, extrication and grain bin recovery, have been regularly attended by Dexter firefighters.

"In the early days, we used to have to go to Columbia, Mo. for the training," he explains, "but, nowadays most of the trainers come here. They are absolutely key to having a good department."

When an extrication team was established several years ago within the Dexter Fire Department, Rowe volunteered to be one its founding members. He remained in that position also until his retirement.

Volumes of certificates earned from various seminars and training event in the Rowe home stand are evidence of the veteran firefighter's abilities. Safety measures learned and proper methods to apply when fighting fires involving fuels or hazardous materials has paid off for Rowe and for the department. He has never been injured in a fire or had to be hospitalized due to an injury from fighting a fire, and he's fought his share.

At an average of about 230 fire calls, extrication calls and other fire-related calls each year, Rowe has feasibly been summoned to more than 8,500 incidents during his career.

"The worst is when there are children involved, and the worst event was when four children and their mother were lost in a wreck. That was the worst, and I've been to a lot of them over the rears."

Rowe says the two worst structure fires he can recall are the fire that destroyed Riddle Lumber in the 1980s near the downtown area and the downtown fire that destroyed The Loft in December 2012.

The methods of fighting fires, Rowe attests, has changed significantly over the years.

"All for the better," he says. "Self-contained breathing apparatus was a big change for us, and even the way we approach a fire now is a lot different than it used to be.

"We used to place fans in the door of a burning structure and draw the flames out and open a window. Now, we blow fresh air in and let it exit, so the smoke is clearing as we're entering the structure."

Rowe says fire safety education has also played a vital role in his position over the years.

"It's all about those kids," he smiles. "We've gone to the schools and the library and daycare centers, and I've enjoyed it all. That's what it's all about."

Dave Rowe has been the "go to" person for many more than those in the department in which he has loyally served. He's an avid hunter, a fisherman and all round outdoor sportsman. He serves quietly and regularly at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, is always available to complete a project with one of his three children and five grandchildren, and a host of friends and relatives -- always with a smile and never for gratification.

Rowe says that for him, life thus far has been good. For a community, a church and a family, Dave Rowe is the reason that life is good.

Over his 37 years of service, Kay Rowe has faithfully cut out and preserved photos and articles that were related to the fire department's and her husband's efforts that appeared in The Daily Statesman. On of his goals during his retirement is to establish a history of those years in book form.

"It's going to be quite an undertaking," he says. "I'd welcome any volunteers!"

Some of the photos from that collection and others may be viewed at www.dailystatesman.com in Photo Galleries.