By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville Fire Capt. Leon Nolen was handed his firefighting helmet one last time Tuesday by Battalion Chief Joe Bratton inside the Central Fire Station as he retired from the fire department after a 33-year career.
Nolen, who was captain at Fire Station 4, located at 4008 S. First St., started out with the Jacksonville Fire Department in 1977 as a 20-year-old.
“This is all I know,” Nolen said about the sunset of his firefighting career.
As an 18-year-old, Nolen’s best friend’s dad coached the fire department’s softball team. Nolen joined the softball team. Nolen was later asked if he would be interested in joining the fire department. Members of the softball team vouched for Nolen. He was hired on to the fire department, but the chief required Nolen to cut his long hair.
Nolen was promoted to engineer after his first year with the department. He was an engineer for nine years until being promoted to captain. During his career Nolen received the fire department’s life-saving award in 1985 and in 2004.
“It was a good way to raise my family and the guys made it an easy job to do,” he said.
Nolen attended the retirement lunch with his wife of 30 years, Lea. They have two sons Landon, 17, and Lance, 13.
He said he cherished all the guys he got to work with and the camaraderie of the fire department.
“I grew up a lot being a fireman,” the 53-year-old said.
An emotional Fire Chief John Vanderhoof said as members of the fire department retire, he feels as if he is losing a part of himself.
“I was his first captain. He adapted to the fire service very quickly. We worked and we always ate good. His favorite meals were Mexican chicken and goulash,” Vanderhoof said.
“He is dedicated and a true friend. He was always there in good times and bad,” the chief said.
Vanderhoof said many of the new firefighters consider firefighting as a job. Through the years of being with the fire department, it becomes a career and then grows to be a lifestyle.
“Here, when you work 30 to 40 years, it becomes an intricate part of your family,” Vanderhoof said.
“The fire department does not change; technology and education change. The core roots are the brotherhood. Dedication makes the fire department,” Vanderhoof said.
Mayor Gary Fletcher, who attended Nolen’s retirement lunch, said when he was younger he thought about being a firefighter.
Fletcher said being a firefighter is more than a job; it is fraternity and a brotherhood.
