University donates money toward volunteer fire truck
Waynesburg University presented a check for $10,000 Thursday to the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Fire Department to help pay for this new fire truck. From left are university President Timothy Thyreen; Ron Fox, president of the fire company; Jeff Marshall, fire chief; and Doug Lee, executive vice president of Waynesburg University.
Waynesburg University presented a $10,000 check to the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Fire Department Thursday to help pay for this new fire truck. From left, Doug Lee, executive vice president of Waynesburg University; University President Timothy Thyreen, presenting the check to Ron Fox, president of the fire company; and Jeff Marshall, fire chief. Jon Stevens/Observer-Reporter
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg University presented the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company with a $10,000 check Thursday, the first of five installments totaling $50,000 to help offset the $417,000 cost of the company’s new 2013 Sutphen rescue pumper fire engine.
The first donation was given in memory of Robert W. Fox, a member of the fire company from 1948 to 2011 who died May 15, 2012, at age 83. Remarkably, Fox was still actively answering fire calls until 2009. He served in many leadership capacities within the fire company during his 62-year tenure, including president for 28 years.
His father was a member from 1941 to 1965, and his four sons and four of his grandsons are active members of the fire company.
Fox was a member of First Baptist Church of Waynesburg, serving as moderator, head usher and deacon; a member of the board of directors at First Federal Savings and Loan of Greene County; president of the Central Greene School Board; was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Waynesburg Rotary Club; and was a Shriner at the Masonic Lodge No. 153 F&AM.
“Mr. Fox led a life exemplary of faith, serving and learning. He was a leader in the Waynesburg-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company, an organization that plays a key role in protecting our community. Our gift in his memory is a very fitting way to recognize both Mr. Fox’s service and the service of the fire company,” said University President Timothy R. Thyreen, who, along with Doug Lee, executive vice president of the university, made the presentation.
In addition to his community involvement, Fox was a local businessman, serving as mechanic, partner, owner and president of Fox Ford Inc., of Waynesburg from 1946 until the time of his death.
The donation to the fire company from Waynesburg University was not the first. The university presented the company with $50,000 for the purchase of the Fire Simulation Training Trailer and $30,000 toward a new fire truck from 2005 to 2007.
“We appreciate the partnership and support from the university,” said fire Chief Jeff Marshall.
Marshall also said the fire company has received a $150,000 state loan, $100,000 from Franklin Township, the sale of a fire truck to the Rices Landing Fire Department and money from the company’s fund balance, to help pay for the truck.
The university also donated more than $430,000 to Waynesburg Borough for the purchase of new police cars, improvements to borough infrastructure, downtown beautification projects, contributions to the borough master plan, recreational fields and parks and maintenance, and construction equipment.