Jim Wolters Honored for 45 Years of Fire Service

Jim Wolters said he was interested in the fire service since he was young, and was drawn to it by his late brother-in-law, who got involved a few years before he did.

45 years later, Wolters is still going strong.

Wolters, who serves as Second Assistant Chief of the Effingham Fire Department, was honored for his years of service at Tuesday night's Effingham City Council meeting.

Wolt, as he is known by his legion of friends, has been serving on the department since becoming a volunteer on March 31, 1969.  Charles Chamberlain was the Fire Chief of the then-all volunteer department.  Effingham had two fire stations, one in the old City Hall that stood on the current Dust and Son location and one across the street east of Martin's IGA.  

Wolters worked most of his years on the fire department while holding down a fulltime job with Dan Hecht Chevrolet-Toyota.  

Fire Chief Joe Holomy presented Wolters an engraved award from the City and a certificate from the Illinois State Fire Marshal commemorating the milestone of service.

(EFFINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT SECOND ASSISTANT CHIEF JIM WOLTERS WITH EFFINGHAM FIRE CHIEF JOE HOLOMY)

The honoree credited his fellow firefighters and his wife for keeping him going.  He said he has a passion for the fire service, and for helping others.  Asked how long he plans to keep going, Wolters said as long as his health permits and the passion for firefighting remains.  He said his health will likely be the first of the two to go.  

(THE AWARD PRESENTED JIM WOLTERS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF EFFINGHAM)

A large contingent of current firefighters and former Fire Chief Nick Althoff, who began his career about the time Wolters did, were among those on hand for Tuesday night's ceremony.