25-year volunteer Howell recognized
Ralph Howell (Photo by Dale Sandburg
From our weekly issue dated December 12, 2007
Marking 25 years of volunteer service to Illinois Valley Fire District, Ralph Howell was honored during a ceremony held by I.V. Volunteer Firefighters Association Thursday night, Dec. 6 at district HQ in Cave Junction.
Howell, 84, said that he came to the Selma area in 1977 after retiring from the Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power. His goal was to simply enjoy retirement, but that he became involved with volunteer services in Grants Pass.
For five years, Howell said, he assisted any person who had trouble getting transportation from Illinois Valley into Grants Pass or even Medford. He was able to assist elderly people getting to medical appointments or those in hard financial situation reaching appointments or interviews.
After five years with volunteer services Howell said that he became involved with IVFD. Then, he said, there were three or four fires daily, but that the numbers have diminished during the years because of the effectiveness of fire prevention.
“I still respond to calls,” said Howell, a member of IVFD’s Support Force. “Mostly it’s people who just need help.” He cited examples of assistance provided to the elderly who simply needed someone to help them with problems they might face in daily living.
Howell added that he is looking forward to full retirement but that, “My captain says I have to stay as long as he does.”
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