Longtime Geary County rural firefighter Oliver Schmutz is retiring.

Now 76 years old, he began serving as a volunteer firefighter in the County in 1983. “In 83 they convinced me I ought to join up, so I did. So here I am today.”

Schmutz resides in Lyon Township south of  Junction City.

Sometimes a firefighter has to respond in a hurry. “Well that’s right. You carry a pager with you and when the alarm goes off you drop everything and report to dispatch that you’re enroute to get the truck.” Schmutz noted he was always there when he needed to be.

On why he served for so many years, Schmutz said, “I don’t know. I just enjoyed being with the guys.”

Garry Berges, Geary County Rural Fire Chief, stated that Schmutz worked with Truck 102 from the Lyon Township area. Since just 2000 that truck has gone on 157 fire calls,  and Oliver had been on that truck more than 115 times for more than 230 hours of service to the County at no cost.

Schmutz was honored during a reception at the Geary County Office Building, presented with a plaque, and his firefighter’s helmet.