Pictured: Members of the Payson Fire Department join Assistant Chief Dean McCoy, his family, and Payson City leaders for a photo following last Wednesday’s award presentation. Pictured (front row, left-right): Stan Spencer, Chief Scott Spencer, Duane McCoy (Dean’s son), Assistant Chief Dean McCoy and his wife, Maxine McCoy, Joe Bona, Paul Mower, Bart Walker, Brad Pulver, Jake McClellan; (second row, left-right): Steve Spencer,Terry Riley, Councilman Kim Hancock, Mayor Rick Moore, Councilman Scott Phillips, Councilman Mike Hardy,Theron Hill, Stewart Montague, Wes Walker, and Councilman Larry Skinner.
Assistant Chief Dean McCoy Honored For Fifty Years as Payson Firefighter:
Dressed in pressed uniforms, local firefighters filled many of the seats at the December 3 Payson City Council meeting. They were there to show their respect for a team-member and friend on the force, Assistant Chief Dean McCoy, as he stepped up to the podium to accept an honor from Payson City leaders.
Assistant Chief McCoy has served for a remarkable fifty years with the Payson Fire Department, work that has rendered him worthy of notice by the city for whom he serves.
“You know, these guys put in a lot of tenure, a lot of time,” Mayor Rick Moore said as he presented the 50-year service award, “and it seems like, if there’s anything going on, Dean’s there. He’s always there, it seems like, on the clean-up. Always working on the engines and everything else and he’s always spending a lot of time.”
Dean was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and moved to Payson with his family at the age of two. He graduated from Payson High School and received training as a welder at the former Utah Trade Technical Institute, now Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah. “If there was something he wanted,” said Mayor Moore, “instead of buying it, he would just make it.”
Dean served in the U.S. Reserves and was active during the Berlin Crisis, and stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington.
His first job was as a mechanic at an Oldsmobile garage. A hunting and fishing enthusiast, he taught fly-tying at Brigham Young University. He was employed as a part-time fireman and EMT at US Steel, and at the Bureau of Reclamation as a meteorologist and hydrologist. He worked for Dugway Proving Grounds as a full-time fireman, and retired from his career with the Federal Government in 1993.
Dean joined the Payson Fire Department in 1963. “When I started, when we went on call, we went dressed as we were,” he said, reflecting on the changes that have occurred since he joined the local fire department. “If we were in church, we went dressed in church clothes. And we improved: Got new uniforms to wear now.”
Dean added, “I appreciate the support of the mayor and council. I appreciate everybody.”
One of the newest members to serve with the Payson Fire Department, Brad Pulver noted that he looks forward to learning the many things that Dean has to offer. With a history like Assistant Chief McCoy’s, it seems there is much knowledge to impart and a strong impression still to be made by the longtime firefighter.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.