A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR Gene Fogle, Chief of the Salley Volunteer Fire Department, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER More than four-and-a-half decadeS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

 

Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina should pause in their deliberations to express their gratitude to Gene Fogle for his significant contributions to the Town of Salley; and

 

Whereas, from his high school years whenever the fire department in Springfield rang the big fire siren, he would follow the curious crowd to the fire. Responding to the call for help became a lifelong habit. After graduating from Springfield High School in 1964, he earned an associate degree in automation at Columbia Commercial College to learn computer programming with a minor in accounting; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Fogle worked on a computer at Columbia's BlueCross BlueShield facility, using punch cards and learning about the IBM 360.  In the patriotic tradition of sons of South Carolina, he served in the United States Air Force on active duty from 1966 to 1970 and inactive from 1971 to 1972; and

 

Whereas, always keen on construction and mechanics, he worked for Columbia's Western Electric, installing and maintaining the wiring equipment for making long-distance calls for Bell systems; and

 

Whereas, since joining the Salley Volunteer Fire Department in 1977, he has responded to fire alarms, trailer fires, brush fires, and the like weekly for almost fifty years and has kept up with training focused on safety first and foremost. He came with a background that included having worked with a computer the size of a house and with prior service at Frances E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he helped to keep nuclear Minuteman missiles ready for duty at a moment's notice; and

 

Whereas, in 1994, he became the chief of the department situated on the former campus of Salley Vocational School, with volunteers and unpaid members, some who are trained for fire work and some who help when they are needed. The department works with the other volunteer fire departments in the small communities of Wagener, Hollow Creek, Couchton, and New Holland; and

 

Whereas, his work with Bell systems gave way to his current pursuit of helping keep farm equipment, mostly cotton pickers, in good shape as his land is surrounded by farm country and straddles the lines between Orangeburg and Aiken counties. Together with his beloved wife, Nancy, he reared two fine sons, John and Bobby, and he hopes to spend happy hours of retirement enjoying his family; and

 

Whereas, grateful for his many years of distinguished service to the Salley Volunteer Fire Department, the South Carolina House of Representatives takes pleasure in extending best wishes to Gene Fogle as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead, and the members wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Gene Fogle, Chief of the Salley Volunteer Fire Department, upon the occasion of his retirement after more than four-and-a-half decades of outstanding service, and wish him continued success and happiness in all his future endeavors.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Gene Fogle.

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