Halifax County commissioners today honored the service of longtime Davie Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Padgett who has decided to retire.
In a resolution honoring Padgett, who has served the Davie community for 50 years, the document notes he first joined the department June 4, 1972, and in 1975 began his tenure as assistant chief. He was promoted to chief in 2008.
“During his tenure, Chief Padgett faithfully served as secretary-treasurer for more than 35 years and has been involved in many decisions affecting the character of the community, each time exhibiting sound judgment and concern for the citizens of Halifax County.”
The resolution says, “Over the past 50 years Chief Padgett has demonstrated wisdom, creativity and community spirit, all tempered with exceptional common sense and engaging personality, which gained the admiration and respect of his fellow firemen and the citizens of Halifax County.”
The resolution also proclaims October 3 as David Lee Padgett Day in Halifax County.
Today’s resolution came after the state Department of Insurance presented the chief the Order of the Guardian, the department’s highest honor in May.
Board Chair Vernon Bryant thanked Padgett for all he has done in the Davie community. “You’re certainly one of Halifax County’s finest.”
Commissioner Carolyn Johnson told Padgett, “We wish you the best on your retirement. We hope that everything you do in retirement will go the way you’d like … we thank you for your years of service.”
Commissioner Patrick Qualls said, “It’s amazing to me that people volunteer their time and help others as you have for this many years. We take it for granted and it’s not something that is lightly done. You leave your family and your children to go out and help others and that’s a special calling.”
Commissioner Linda Brewer thanked Padgett for his years of service. “It’s hard to get seven nowadays. I thank you for helping others.”
While he did not know Padgett personally, Commissioner John Smith’s late son Marcelle was a volunteer firefighter and had been chief of the Tillery department. “I know that you had to make many sacrifices.”
County Manager Dia Denton also thanked Padgett for his years of service. “Volunteerism is a dying breed,” she said. “You’re quite an example of what exemplary service looks like. We appreciate your service.”
Padgett thanked the commissioners for the honor and the citizens of the Davie community as well those in the county. “I didn’t wake up one day and decide I was going to serve 50 years but one day turns into another … you keep going.”
He said he has always enjoyed the camaraderie of all the fire departments. “It’s a brotherhood and everyone looks out for each other and loves each other. Time keeps going by until you get where I’m at. It doesn’t seem like 50 years but when I look back we have been through many times of struggles and stress.”
It was once easier than it is today, he said, because people were more willing to volunteer. “We’ve been lucky. We’ve been very fortunate we’ve had people to step forward and do the things that had to be done.”
There were times, he said, when coming back from fire calls in the early morning hours that the work wasn’t over. “Sometimes we would have to make a repair on a truck and get it ready for the next call or we had to repack hoses and get our air bottles refilled. I want to thank y’all for this recognition and for y’all’s confidence in me. Most of all I want to thank the Lord – thank God that I was able to maintain my health in order to stay in this position.”
He thanked the commissioners for their support of fire departments. “We came to the county commissioners in times past when we needed some help to keep the doors open and the commissioners were always there. They’ve always been there for us.”
