2008 Woodie Awards
Oxford fire chief to retire in May
City will say goodbye to Len Endress after 38 years of service
Margaret Watters
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Community
Oxford fire chief Len Endress's large musky office is strewn with boxes, files, posters, children's drawings and family photos. Thirty-eight years of service to the city lay manifested in the partially filled boxes as Endress begins to pack away his office.
"I'm finding things I've been looking for for 10 years and had forgotten I'd lost," Endress laughed.
After a long career with the city, Endress is taking his last day of work and his first vacation May 31.
"He's going to be missed," Oxford Mayor Prue Dana said. "Len's name has been synonymous with fire prevention and fire safety in Oxford for all those years."
Endress, who grew up in Millville, started working at the station as a mechanic during his summer breaks from Purdue University.
"I've never once dreaded coming into work," Endress said. "That's something to be said for the job."
Except for a few weekend conferences, Endress hasn't taken a vacation in all his years of service. He has a cabin reserved in the Tennessee mountains two weeks after his last day.
Although he doesn't remember his first fire, Endress can't forget his first EMS call, a heart attack in Riley Township. Despite training, Endress said it is impossible to be ready for your first situation. Endress's EMS team was not successful and the man died.
"It's always difficult," Endress said. "You think you can go out and save the world. It really gives you a reality check when something like that happens."
A lot has changed since Endress's early days as a mechanic with the station.
"Just about everything (has changed)," Endress said.
Endress said that when he started working for the station he was issued a pair of boots, a rubber raincoat, rubber gloves and a plastic helmet.
Technology has drastically advanced in the past three decades. The equipment, once made of rubber, is now made with a new fabric that does not melt and is flame resistant. However, because of the security the technology brings, Endress said that fighters are ignoring their physical limitations.
"I'm finding things I've been looking for for 10 years and had forgotten I'd lost," Endress laughed.
After a long career with the city, Endress is taking his last day of work and his first vacation May 31.
"He's going to be missed," Oxford Mayor Prue Dana said. "Len's name has been synonymous with fire prevention and fire safety in Oxford for all those years."
Endress, who grew up in Millville, started working at the station as a mechanic during his summer breaks from Purdue University.
"I've never once dreaded coming into work," Endress said. "That's something to be said for the job."
Except for a few weekend conferences, Endress hasn't taken a vacation in all his years of service. He has a cabin reserved in the Tennessee mountains two weeks after his last day.
Although he doesn't remember his first fire, Endress can't forget his first EMS call, a heart attack in Riley Township. Despite training, Endress said it is impossible to be ready for your first situation. Endress's EMS team was not successful and the man died.
"It's always difficult," Endress said. "You think you can go out and save the world. It really gives you a reality check when something like that happens."
A lot has changed since Endress's early days as a mechanic with the station.
"Just about everything (has changed)," Endress said.
Endress said that when he started working for the station he was issued a pair of boots, a rubber raincoat, rubber gloves and a plastic helmet.
Technology has drastically advanced in the past three decades. The equipment, once made of rubber, is now made with a new fabric that does not melt and is flame resistant. However, because of the security the technology brings, Endress said that fighters are ignoring their physical limitations.
Be the first to comment on this story