What do you say to a person who’s devoted nearly 46 years of their life to serving and protecting the community he was born and raised in?
A simple ‘thank you? or ‘great job? just doesn’t seem to cut it.
But Dale Spiker, 70, doesn’t need or seek out words of praise because to him the job being an Oxford firefighter was its own reward.
‘I just enjoyed doing it,? he said.
Spiker is now retired from the fire department he served from December 1960 through May 1995, then again from February 1996 through April 2007.
‘I was gettin? past the age I should be up there working, so I thought I’d better get out before something happened, enjoy life a little more,? he said.
‘We tried to convince him to stay a little longer, but he thought it was time,? explained Fire Chief Jack LeRoy. ‘He’s going to be sorely missed. I’ll miss turning to him because you could bounce things off him and he’d have ideas.?
It was Spiker’s solid leadership and tireless dedication that helped make the fire department everything it is today.
‘The department made a lot of advances over the years under him and the guys of his era,? LeRoy said. ‘The department became well-known for its aggressiveness in fighting fires and for its ability to keep up with the times.?
Personally, LeRoy will always be grateful to Spiker for all he taught him.
‘I learned a lot underneath him,? said LeRoy, who was originally hired by Spiker as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1983. ‘We learned so much from him. He was a hands-on chief. He knew what he was doing. I’m sure going to miss him.?
Spiker’s decision to become a member of the department was prompted by his belief in ‘community service? and an invitation to join the family business.
His former father-in-law, the late Perry Earp, was a firefighter as was Earp’s father-in-law, the late Ross Tope. All three men, representing three generations, served on the department at the same time.
In 1965, Spiker’s hard work and commitment was recognized and he was made a sergeant. He quickly rose through the ranks becoming a lieutenant, then assistant chief.
Finally, in 1970, the firefighters elected Spiker chief of the all-volunteer department, a position he held first by election, then by appointment, until 1991.
‘I guess they figured I was doing a good job,? he said. ‘They just kept me in there.?
When the decision was made to make the chief’s position a full-time job as opposed to a paid-on-call position, Spiker had no problem stepping back and becoming one of the crew again.
Fighting fires was always Spiker’s favorite part of the job.
He admitted ‘it’s sorta crazy, people going into burning buildings,? but it was always worth it to see ‘the look on people’s faces? when he’d save their personal belongings, especially those with great sentimental value.
‘It was really gratifying,? said Spiker, a 1955 graduate of Oxford High School. ‘Everybody was always so appreciative.?
Before the fire department started doing medical runs in 1982, Spiker said the pace was ‘a lot slower.?
‘Now every time you turn around the guys are running out of the fire hall to a medical here and there,? he said.
LeRoy noted back in the 1960s, when the department did only fire runs, it went on between 60 and 100 calls a year. ‘There were a lot more bad fires than there are today,? the chief said.
Whenever things got busy at the department, Spiker always took it in stride as he balanced family needs and his job at General Motors Truck and Bus.
‘Sometimes it got pretty hectic, but you just kept doing the job,? said Spiker, who worked for GM until 1991 when he retired after working 36? years as a skilled trades mechanic.
‘People don’t realize all the things he sacrificed for this community,? said LeRoy, referring to all the family meals and holidays gatherings that were interrupted because Spiker was called to duty. ‘You add up 46 years of that and that’s a lot of time he sacrificed for the community.?
Being with the department for nearly half-a-century, Spiker witnessed and helped implement so many changes, especially when it came to equipment.
‘When I took over chief, all we had was a pumper and a tanker,? he said. ‘We didn’t have much else.?
LeRoy recalled there was also a backup pumper.
Today, the department has two stations equipped with 13 emergency vehicles including pumpers, tankers, grass fire units, command vehicles, three ambulances and a 95-foot aerial platform
‘The equipment is so much better nowadays,? Spiker said.
But one thing that never changes is the ‘camaraderie? between firefighters and that’s what Spiker said he’ll miss the most.
‘We always had a good time together,? he said.
Spiker plans to spend his retirement enjoying time with his wife of 34 years, Suzanne, and doing the things he loves including odd jobs around the house, bowling, golf, fishing and playing softball.