Victoria MN Newspaper

THANK YOU, GARY SOHNS, FOR 30 YEARS

OF SERVICE IN THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT

Victoria Firefighter Gary Sohns retired from the Victoria Fire Department after 30 years of service. He was honored and recognized at the July 28th Victoria City Council meeting.

Fire Chief Andrew Heger noted that Gary retired in March of this year. Among his 30 years with the Department were nine years as Fire Chief, from 1993 to 2002. "Our entire Fire Department has benefited from him," said Andrew. "He would always step back and mentor that next role and give full support and backing to the next person. Gary has been invaluable to the Department. He was always there to help new people in the Department."

Andrew said that Gary held the positions of Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, and Training Officer. Chief Heger presented a plaque recognizing his outstanding service, and Gary's wife Jean was invited to attach the service pin.

Gary then spoke at the podium, recalling some memorable moments from the past, at times seeming to get choked up. "For some time now, I've been looking forward to this," he said. "The Fire Department has always been in the family. My father served for 27 years in the Victoria Fire Department. My grandfather was the local barber and helped start the Victoria Fire Department in 1913. It was a little bit different back then. If you were a male in town, you were on the Fire Department."

"When I've been asked why I joined the Department, "said Gary, "I've always said it's because of family and childhood memories."

He recalled the smelt fries of old which attracted hundreds of people to the annual Smelt Fry sponsored by the Victoria Fire Department. "Cleaning them doesn't sound so fun, but it was," said Gary. "We also had summer picnics held at Lake Bavaria on Schneider's Shore. You develop a friendship that lasts forever, including with the retired guys. You go to their family weddings and they go to ours. It's not just the training and emergencies you have in common. We've have bowling and softball and broomball teams that created a family atmosphere."

"The most positive experience I ever had on the Department was that I got to deliver a baby," said Gary. "Doug Jurek was on that call with me. It's the first time I had fear on a call. I sure was happy when the paramedics showed up."

He also mentioned difficult days serving on the Victoria Fire Department. "I'll never forget the Storms of 1998 . It was Friday night, May 2nd. Ten of us left our families and went to the Fire Station. Unbeknownst to us, the 911 paging system failed and there was a residence in Deer Run hit by lightning. The task was overwhelming. We could communicate with the county but they couldn't dispatch. It wasn't a good experience."

He said that two weeks later another storm came through Victoria and he mentioned many of his fellow officers who served with him during that time when he was the Chief. He said he also enjoys working with the current group of Victoria firefighters.

Gary thanked his longtime employer, Roberts Medical Products. "I was very fortunate to work there," he said. "They stood by me all the way. It was great to work for a family owned business." When it came to leaving work to respond to a fire call, they said, "Do what you have to do."

Click here to continue Thank You, Gary Sohns.