Port Carbon firefighter honored for years of service
Nov. 23—PORT CARBON — The chief engineer of Port Carbon's Goodwill Fire Company was honored Monday for serving the community as an active firefighter for 50 years.
Randy Taylor, 68, said he joined the fire service in 1972 after wanting to get involved when he would go to the Phoenix Fire Company in Pottsville, where his father was a member.
"My dad took me there a lot, and that's how I became interested," he said.
At the Goodwill Fire Company, Taylor worked his way up the ranks from firefighter to assistant chief engineer and then to chief engineer, a job he took over more than 35 years ago.
"I was even a second assistant fire chief — I had many hats," he said.
Despite the time required to be a volunteer firefighter, Taylor said he would do it all over again.
He also said he has been nominated for the position of chief engineer for the 2023 term and will gladly accept it.
"I'm not ready to quit," Taylor said.
Knowing the day will come when he will have to step down, Taylor said that he is working with a younger firefighter, teaching him the ins and outs of being an engineer.
"He's coming along. I hope that he will take over some day," he said.
Port Carbon Fire Chief Michael Welsh said Taylor's dedication and knowledge about the vehicles and pumps is a valuable asset to the company.
"He takes it very seriously," Welsh said. "He keeps up on the maintenance and makes sure the trucks will start every time."
Welsh said that Taylor has been an engineer since the time he joined the Goodwill Fire Company 38 years ago and that his contributions are still going strong.
In addition to driving and pumping at fire and emergency scenes as well as maintaining the vehicles, Welsh said that Taylor trains all of the prospective drivers/pump operators for the fire company.
"He has been training all of our drivers for the past 20 years," Welsh said. "His driving and knowledge of pumping is passed down, and that's something we're fortunate to have."
In addition to thanking Taylor for his years of service, the company presented him with a proclamation signed by Port Carbon council President Scott Krater and Mayor Harold Herndon.
"Borough council would like to extend our congratulations to Mr. Randy Taylor for 50 years of active service to the Goodwill Fire Co.," the proclamation reads.
The document also says that the borough has benefited daily from the knowledge and skill of Taylor's dedication to protecting the lives and property of all residents and those visiting.
"We hereby recognize Randy Taylor for his extraordinary devotion to the ideals and goals of the Fire Service within the Borough and his 50 years of Active Service to the Goodwill Fire Co. while maintaining the highest level of professionalism," the document concludes.
In addition to being borough council president, Krater is also the fire marshal for Port Carbon and the director of the Schuylkill County 911 Center.
Taylor received the awards from Welsh, Krater and fire company President Greg Schuettler.
