ELIZABETHTOWN – The dedication of one of the longest-serving volunteer firefighters in the county was recently celebrated by friends, family, neighbors and colleagues at the Elizabethtown Fire Station on East Legal Tender Road.
Ivan Shinolt became one of the first 20 original firefighters when the Elizabethtown Volunteer Fire Department was founded. The date was June 1, 1956, and Shinolt had just turned 15.
But one week from today, he will mark his 65th year with the same volunteer department, Elizabethtown Fire Department Chief Tom Nienaber said.
“Because I was so young at that time, I was very limited on what I could do,” said Shinolt, 79, who recalled an era when volunteer firefighters received mostly “on-the-job” training.
His long-time friend, Gene Wint of rural Azalia, said the young Shinolt had expressed concerns that he was just getting in the way when he started at age 15. Nevertheless, the teen kept hanging out at the fire station, and the adults eventually took him under their wing, Wint said.
Over the subsequent decades, Shinolt would essentially learn to do every job within the department, including fire chief, Nienaber said.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
