Crime & Safety

Montauk Fire Department Honors Ex-Chief for 55 Years of Service

Richard McGowin has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 60 years on the South Fork.

Former fire chief Richard McGowin wasn't able to make it to the 's annual dinner in May, so the department missed the opportunity to honor one of their longest serving members.

On Friday, 15 members, including several past chiefs, put on their Class-A uniforms and headed to the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton to surprise McGowin with a plaque to commemorate his 55 years of service to the department.

"This sure is a nice surprise," McGowin said after several people sang him praises and passed inside jokes.

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At 83, McGowin's service in volunteer fire departments reaches even beyond his 55 years in Montauk's department. He first joined the North Sea Fire Department in 1947 at the age of 18 and then transferred to Montauk around 1956 — making for a total of 62 years in the fire service.

"A lot of us know Dick for a long, long time," said First Assistant Chief John McDonald, who stood in for Chief Richard Schoen. who was under the weather and not able to make it.

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McDonald said it was always "a sign of relief" when McGowin showed up at fires as the fire coordinator because he had so much experience. "I was very lucky . . . I got to work with you a lot," he said.

McDonald called McGowin his mentor, someone from which he often sought advice. "I spent many many hours in the talking to Mr. McGowin about stuff. Fortunately, he didn't just have flowers in those showcases. He always had plenty of wine," he said with a good laugh.

McGowin was always involved in different facets of the fire department, from the membership committee to later becoming the chairman of the Montauk Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners.

According to his family, McGowin served on the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Board for over 25 years, representing the Town of East Hampton. He worked hard to bring all the county sponsored training and education out east. His family said he was a force being getting county helicopters to fly eat to transport trauma patients.

He was also the Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness Services for the Town of East Hampton for more than 20 years, coordinating evacuations, Red Cross shelters and information for hurricanes.

"When he joined the fire department, he didn't just join the fire department just be there, he joined in to do a real good job," McDonald said.


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