Newcastle firefighter to be inducted into HOF

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
Gene Diedtrich will be one of the first inductees into the newly formed Wyoming Firefighters Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place in Riverton on Aug. 22.
“The State of Wyoming has recently created the Wyoming Fire Fighters Hall of Fame,” said a July 9 letter J. Michael Reed, the Wyoming state fire marshal. “And along with that opened up a nomination process to recognize those who have given a great deal to the advancement of the Fire Service.”
After the nomination process was complete, the Wyoming Fire Service Hall of Fame review board selected four individuals who will be inducted into the hall of fame’s inaugural year of 2019. 
Diedtrich joined the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department in December 1961. He is still an active member and has held all the department’s elective offices, including serving as chief for six years. 
“The fire department is a member of the Wyoming State Firemen’s Association, a nonprofit corporation composed of most of the fire departments in Wyoming and promotes things that serve the fire service and the general public.” Diedtrich said, “I served as its secretary in 1976 and president in 1984. In 1994, the group expanded its officer positions and created an executive secretary position. I have served as the executive secretary since the position was formed.”
“The association formed a mutual aid department in about 1948,” he continued, “Which is a membership benevolent fund set up to assist ... beneficiaries upon their demise.” Diedtrich said. 
“The program only was paying $200 back in 1994,” he said. “I did some research and eventually found additional benefits for firemen and their families. Since then, the fund has increased…Now the benefit provides a $2,500 death benefit.”
Diedtrich was a member of the fire department drill team for 40 years. Eleven of those years, the drill team won the state competition.
“I am currently serving my 30th year as a member of Wyoming Retirement System’s Volunteer Firemen’s (Firefighter), EMT and Search and Rescue Pension Fund board, serving as a board chairman since 2015.” he said. “The governor appoints the board position.”
Diedtrich received the Distinguished Service Honor Roll award in 2000 from the Newcastle fire department. He received the Fireman of the Year award in 2000, and a gold-plated commemorative ax for 50 years of service as well. He also was awarded a certificate of accomplishment by the state of Wyoming.
Diedtrich has seen many changes during his decades of service. He remembers when most of the training took place during drills on Main Street, but improvements have taken place over the years, he said. From 1977 through 1978, a joint effort between the city of Newcastle and the state of Wyoming, expansion started happening. With the help of some federal grants, as well as private donations, the current location of the department and buildings developed. The training program for firefighters expanded beyond the drills. Diedtrich was among those who helped get the training in place.
Joyce Diedtrich, Gene’s wife of 57 years, said his service has defined who he is and she is proud of his commitment to the fire department and the community. She said his hard work and passion have helped make the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department a safer and more efficient organization. 
“Belonging to the fire department changed his character.” she said, “It’s a devotion and a comradeship. I think that’s something he needed. … He needed a focus … a broader outlook about his life.” 
“Newcastle has the best fire department in the state,” said Robert Munger, Newcastle’s fire chief. “Gene has been one of the reasons for that. He has worked hard and has been instrumental in the training of our department. This induction tells you something about Gene. All the work he’s done, not only with Newcastle but the state, is amazing. He has more time in the fire service than most of us have been on the earth. That is quite an accomplishment.”
“He has been a great help for the four years I’ve been fire marshal,” Reed said, “It’s an honor to know him.” 
Diedtrich exemplifies the best qualities in a person, Reed said. 
“If you want to see what dedication to a department and the safety and well-being of a crew and a community look like,” he said, “all you need to do is look at Diedtrich…he demonstrates the best of us all,” 
According to Reed, the hall of fame idea started when the state firefighters association realized the heroic record of those firefighters who have given their all, some of them paying the ultimate sacrifice. In conjunction with honoring those who lost their lives, the firefighter’s association decided that it needed to honor those who devoted their lives to training other firefighters and making our communities safer. 
“It’s not only the fallen who deserve recognition,” Reed said, “People like Gene have sacrificed as well. They have helped establish departments that put community safety first. That is something you can’t replace.”
In addition to Diedtrich, the other inductees are Joseph Fender of Cheyenne and two posthumous inductees, Donald E. Young of Casper, and Larry Lee of Riverton.
Diedtrich said he wants to share this honor with the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department.
“Thanks to the city and the department,” he said, “we have the greatest people and equipment possible. It’s been wonderful to see the department grow and acquire modern, reliable equipment over the years. The facility expansions have been great. The Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department is the best in the whole state of Wyoming. This honor belongs to the whole group, not just me.”