BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Falmouth fire chief Keevil Hart is retiring July 1.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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FALMOUTH, Ky. -- Soon, Keevil Hart will say goodbye to firefighting, an occupation he's enjoyed for 36 years. July 1, the 57-year-old fire chief of six years will step down from the department.
"I've been on (the department) so long, I'm just kind of burned out," Mr. Hart said. "I just got tired. I'm going to slow down." Actually, he wanted to retire last November, but his father wanted him to stay with the department. His dad, Melvin, died in April.
Melvin, a member of the department since the 1940s, including eight years as chief, was the patriarch of three generations of Hart men living out their dreams of saving lives.
"Fine people," Falmouth Mayor Max Goldberg said of the Hart men, whom he's known for more than 50 years. "They were just good, solid people. They were well-liked by 99 percent of the people."
This month, Mr. Hart will also close the family-owned auto dealership in downtown Falmouth, which his father opened in 1940.
Asked whether he will miss the friendships and fire runs, Mr. Hart responded, "I have some other interests to keep me busy. I'll probably miss it some. I've had some good memories."
Mr. Hart praised Falmouth City Council and the Pendleton County Fiscal Court for being supportive and great to work with.
But the traditional lives on.
Three other Harts -- Phillip, Marty and Mark -- remain on the 40-person volunteer department.
Marty, who along with this identical twin Mark, joined the department 11 years ago, but not before spending several years as junior firemen, a department auxiliary program. Marty, the fire department's assistant chief, has applied to be chief.
"It has just been a family tradition. It's just been kind of like we've been handing it down," said Marty, 30.
Maybe there will be a Hart at the fire department's helm after all. City officials may pick a new chief in July.
Nonetheless, the mayor said of Melvin and Keevil Hart, "They're going to be hard to replace. They were part of it . . . that was part of their life."
