Former Prospect Fire President retires after 57 years of dedicated service
Sam Wagner can recall enthusiastically washing firetrucks before he was old enough to officially join the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department in 1967.
After nearly six decades of assisting members of a community that he was born and raised in, the 75-year-old public servant retired from the department at the end of December.
Wagner said he followed in his father’s footsteps as he ascended up the ranks to eventually hold the title of fire president for two different local companies.
“I grew up with it,” he said. “My dad was a volunteer fireman and captain of the fire police for years here in Prospect. It was kind of in my blood. I like to help people and stuff. That’s pretty much what got me going.”
It was just the beginning of a passionate volunteering arc that also enticed Wagner to join the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department in 1977 before serving as president for five years in the 1990s.
“I owned pretty much every office in the executive branch over there except for treasurer,” Wagner said. “Once you get into it, you develop a passion for it and you don’t give it up.”
Equipped with a vast amount of knowledge and experience, Wagner made a lasting impression on every person that stepped through the doors of the fire hall, especially those who were learning what it takes to be a valuable part of a company.
Wagner’s unmistakable kindness is what allowed him to grow into such a well-known figure.
“Right upon meeting him, you could tell that he just has a passion for helping others,” said Ashley Rea, who has been friends with Wagner for a half-decade as a volunteer with the Prospect department. “It doesn’t matter really in what capacity Sam is helping other people. If any person that knows him needs to call him for literally anything, he’ll be there in five minutes. I feel like that’s what his passion is. He is just the go-getter for everybody, and fire fighting, I think, is just one of those things.”
Wagner said the ability to build lifelong friendships is one of the main reasons that kept him around for so long.
“I’ve worked with some really good people in both departments,” he said. “It was hard giving that up.”
In between volunteering, Wagner has worked part time at Raisley Funeral Home in Prospect since 1998.
He also is a member of Prospect Borough Council and the Prospect Library Board.
Despite recent health concerns, Wagner said he has no intention of giving up those positions anytime soon.
“I’m definitely staying with those,” he said.
