BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[clore]](/editions/1998/10/26/fireman_180x140.jpg)
Gerald Clore laughs at a story about him told by Assistant Chief Karl Klaene, left.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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BURLINGTON -- Fifty years ago Sunday, Gerald Clore applied and was accepted as a member of the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department.
He remains active today, going out on fire runs with firefighters half his 72 years.
On Sunday he was honored with a dinner and awards ceremony attended by more than a hundred people.
"He's an outstanding person. He's a very good teacher with the young guys because he has a lot of patience. He's a genuine asset to the department," said Chief David Biddle, a 31-year member of the department.
Mr. Clore, who also goes by "Gerd" or "Grandpa," mostly operates the pump on fire runs.
"He knows the equipment, and he knows how to relate to the younger people as they come on the department," Chief Biddle said. "He has helped make my position as chief easier by sharing his knowledge and experience from the time when he was chief."
In January 1988, Chief Biddle had held the rank for 1 1/2 years. But he said he "was still in over my head . . . I asked Gerd if he would be an assistant chief and help me learn to be the type of chief needed to lead our department."
Mr. Clore accepted and held the office until December 1993, when he stepped down to give some of the younger firefighters more management experience in the department.
Assistant Chief Karl Klaene, 30, said he was 15 when he started helping out at the fire department. "He made me feel like this is family up here," said Assistant Chief Klaene, chairman of the Burlington Fire Protection District Board.
The assistant chief said Mr. Clore taught him how to play euchre. "Words just don't justify what he's done for the community," he said.
"Eighty percent of the department is still volunteers. . . . Like the chief said, Gerd leads by example. I hope that I can stay around for 50 years just like he did," Assistant Chief Klaene said.
Judy Patrick said her late husband, Kirk, who was electrocuted when he went on a fire run in the middle of the night in 1989, admired Mr. Clore.
"He's just been a blessing to the department, and my husband looked up to him very much. He taught my husband a lot," Mrs. Patrick said.
Mr. Clore, who was made an honorary lifetime member with the rank of assistant chief in 1994, said the celebration came as a big surprise to him.
"You don't know how many friends you got until something like this happens," said Mr. Clore, whose birthday is Tuesday.
He has no plans of retiring anytime soon. "I ain't got nothing else to do," Mr. Clore said.
![[clore]](/editions/1998/10/26/fireman_550x429.jpg)