Koglin, Ross honored for a century of service to Warrenton

Wednesday, Jun. 19 | By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

President John F. Kennedy put an embargo on Cuba. The Postal Service instituted zip codes for the first time. And Dale Koglin and Steve Ross? They became firefighters.

At last Thursday's Fauquier County Board of Supervisors meeting, board member Chris Granger made a proclamation honoring Koglin and Ross for 50 years of active service in the Warrenton Fire Department.

The two joined back in 1963 when they were just 14 years old.

At that age, Koglin and Ross cleaned up the old firehouse on Main Street and tagged along at a distance on calls, but couldn't actually fight any fires.

But as other boys came and went, Koglin and Ross never wavered. They made sure they never received two D's or an F in school (which would have gotten them booted from the program), and when they turned 16, they received the training necessary to become full-fledged volunteer firefighters.

"Back in those days, the fire company was kind of like the Boys and Girls Club is today," Dale Koglin said. "It probably kept us out of trouble."

Throughout the years, they remained active, even while juggling demanding professional careers. Ross became the fire chief at Dulles Airport, while Koglin served for years as Warrenton's Chief of Police.

"A lot of people get that 30-year, 40-year, 50-year accolade, and are they really truly active?" said Warrenton Fire Chief Sam Myers.

At one time or another, Ross and Koglin played each and every role within the department.

(For the full story, please read Friday's edition of the Fauquier Times)

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