Ossman Praised for Service
CREDIT: Article/Picture - Corey Jones, CJOnline.com
DOVER — For outgoing Dover Fire Chief Bill Ossmann, brick and mortar-type accomplishments, such as the construction of a second fire station and acquisition of several apparatus during his tenure at the helm, isn’t what he hangs his helmet on.
No, the recently appointed Shawnee County District Court judge prefers to tip his hat toward the men and women with whom he has served with for more than two decades.
Ossmann, 61, glanced arou
nd Fellowship Hall, a building adjacent to the Dover Federated Church in the small western Shawnee County town, at the 150 or so community members inside. This included staff of the all-volunteer Shawnee County Fire District No. 4, more commonly known as Dover fire.
He noted their dedication in responding to calls in the dark of night — vehicle wrecks on Interstate 70, out-of-control pasture blazes threatening structures, and other fire or medical emergencies.
“Just the opportunity to work with these kind of people with that kind of dedication to helping their fellow neighbors is probably more important to me than any station or any apparatus,” Ossmann said.
He stepped down Thursday from his position as chief because Ossmann’s new capacity as a district court judge won’t allow him to serve in both roles. However, Ossmann will continue work with Dover fire in a lesser part.
In his stead, the district’s fire board chose former Mission Township firefighter and current Kansas National Guard Lt. Col. Dirk Christian to take the reigns as fire chief.
Christian has been a firefighter for more than 22 years and is a fourth-generation volunteer firefighter. His term as fire chief began effective Friday.
Ossmann has served Dover fire for 28 years, 18 of which as chief during two stints — 1991-94 and 1997-January 2013.
Lou Allen, district treasurer and board member, said the Valencia Fire Station, three brush trucks, two tankers, a fire engine and a rescue truck have been added under Ossmann’s direction. And those are just the big-ticket items, she said, noting the district recently replaced its self-contained breathing apparatus.
The district responded to 191 calls in 2012, a record high. That is nearly double the 100 calls responded to in 1991 when Ossmann first became fire chief. The district’s service area now stretches another few miles into Wabaunsee County.
“He’s taken the fire district through a lot of growth,” Allen said.
Ossmann isn’t one to sit on the sidelines, she said. He tosses himself right into the action. She said he won’t ask his volunteers to do something he wouldn’t.
“Bill has leadership qualities that make you want to volunteer,” Allen said.
John Atkin, 57, a friend and nearby neighbor of Ossmann and his wife, said the outgoing fire chief deserves all the appreciation he could get Saturday evening.
Atkin noted Ossmann’s enjoyment at providing levity and creating a lively atmosphere. He said Ossmann was great at managing and melding together multiple ideas from his staff.
“What can you say about somebody that’s willing to provide a service to the community that pays absolutely nothing, to put in all the years that he has in one capacity or another — mostly as fire chief — he did an excellent job,” Atkin said.
During Saturday evening’s chili feed, Dennis Whitegon, 65, was presented as the district’s firefighter of the year, as chosen by his peers.
Whitegon, a Dover fire volunteer for 10 years, earlier in the evening discussed the story of how he came to be counted among the Dover crew, which appropriately involved Ossmann.
Whitegon, driving home from dinner one dark night, happened upon a one-vehicle wreck that occurred when a car missed a curb and rolled into a field.
Without aid of a flashlight, Whitegon rushed to help the ejected woman, who appeared badly injured. She was incoherent, he said. Whitegon remembers seeing numerous children’s blankets and car seats. He placed a blanket under the woman’s head as he checked her for severe bleeding.
Ossmann showed up, he said, and asked what was going on and how could he help. After a briefing, Ossmann told Whitegon to find someone with a flashlight and search the field for possible child victims and then report back to him.
“He gave me orders. He gave me what I should be doing,” Whitegon remembered. “And I thought, ‘You know that is really great.’ Come to find out he was with the Dover Fire District.”
The woman ultimately was OK and was the only person involved in the crash. That night led to Whitegon into service with Ossmann and the many other volunteers of Dover.
“What a character,” Whitegon said. “What a nice guy.”
SOURCE: http://cjonline.com/news-local/2013-02-02/resigning-dover-fire-chief-praised-service
