Gaston Rural Fire District

Chief Roger Mesenbrink presents Gary Carr, left, with a plaque honoring his service

For Gary Carr, a high school job at a gas station naturally evolved into 25 years on the Gaston Rural Fire District, a term that ended at the June meeting.

If you live in Gaston, it all makes sense.

The gas station was operated by Ron Hoodenpyl, who was fire chief in Gaston for four decades. Carr's workmate was Ron's son, Chip, who has risen to Assistant Chief after 40 years of volunteering.

Carr caught the bug watching his coworkers drop everything to serve their community. First elected to the board in 1978, Carr served until 1984. After taking a few years off to build his business and raise his family, he returned to the board in 1992, and stayed until the June 8 meeting.

His return in the 1990s sometimes was rocky as Ron Hoodenpyl retired and the district struggled through a tough transition. "Those were rough times," Carr recalls. "I remember looking out and we had this whole room full of people at some meetings."

Some board members quit, but Carr rode out the tough times and now recalls the struggle with pride because the district emerged "stronger than ever."

"It's been an experience," he says. "Some good, some bad, but you kind of forget the bad ones and remember the good."

"And these," he says, "Are the best times we've ever had. We are on the strongest financial footing we've ever been."

Gaston Chief Roger Mesenbrink credits Carr with a major role in achieving that stability.

"Gary has had a huge impact on what you see here today," Mesenbrink says, "Whether it's the fire station (which was built during Carr's time in office), the equipment, whatever."

"It's been a huge commitment," Mesenbrink says of Carr's service.

Carr casts aside such accolades. "I've always had a great appreciation for what the volunteers do," he says. "What I did was a minor thing compared to what the volunteers do."

Carr's roots run deep in Gaston, having spent nearly his entire life here. He and his wife, Pat, still live in the house his parents bought in 1958, a house in which they raised their children: Sara, now 30, and Jared, 27.

"We're not going anywhere," Carr says. "We'll still be around."

In fact, he'll still be around the fire station. Mesenbrink has persuaded Carr to trade his seat on the board for one on the budget committee.

So the kind of service Carr once provided at that gas station has faded into history. The service he provides to his community remains alive and well.