Ranger – The Ranger Volunteer Fire Department hosted a 50-year celebration with a luncheon at the community center on Nov. 17 to recognize and honor members of yesteryear.
The Ranger Community Center was the original fire station in its earlier beginnings. The department was founded in 1974 and its first fire chief was Gary Kilpatrick, who was also Cherokee County’s first fire marshal.
Chief Mike Taylor enlightened younger firefighters as to just how challenging they had it back then. In the department’s early years, money was raised for equipment with chicken dinners and boot drives as opposed to grants .
“We take for granted that we have this super-nice equipment and that we have anything that we want. You guys didn’t have that, you had to start with nothing,” Taylor said while looking at previous members.
Kilpatrick said he was “gratified” to be at the luncheon in honor of himself and other past members.
“I feel gratified, very much so. I’m happy to have my family here and my brother. He’s four years younger than me, I’m 86 years old,” he said with a smile.
About 50 firefighters, family members and friends attended the luncheon to reminisce, share old photos and enjoy a meal, which was catered by Parker’s Burgers & Sweets.
A commemorative T-shirt showing images of the original and current fire trucks were gifted to each attendee at the luncheon, along with hefty leftovers of food.
The Ranger Fire Department has grown substantially since those early days with personnel, training and equipment. Taylor plans to continue growing the department, including building a new station within 10 years.
“Our guys and gals put in a lot of time and effort, and I’m proud of them,” Taylor said, and it was apparent that Kilpatrick felt the same way.