Retired Members Biographies -
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Published on: 9/11/2004
Last Visited: 9/11/2004
Dean Smith - Everett Dorcas - Tom Dayhoff
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Dean Smith
Dean is another native Coloradan, born 1939 in Denver.He is 63 years old.He graduated from Arvada High School in 1957.In 1958 he enlisted in the US Navy and was honorably discharged in 1963.He was assigned to the Naval Air Station in Denver (Buckley Field) until it was decommissioned, then was transferred to the Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington, DC.There he rose to the rank of Petty Officer Third Class (E4).
He worked for Empire Automotive, managing their Arvada auto parts store from 1961 to 1967.He was a brewery worker at Adolph Coors Brewery in Golden from 1967 to 1969 when he went to work for the Arvada Fire Protection District.He continued his education by attending Red Rocks Community College between 1972 and 1978, obtaining two degrees - an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science and an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice.He then went on to graduate from Regis College in Denver in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management.
Dean was married in 1984 to Joyce.He has three children by a previous marriage - Sheri C. Meyers, who is a registered nurse living in Arvada; Kathleen M. Eggart, a Licensed Practical Nurse living in Arvada; and Scott W. Smith, a Denver police officer and attorney, living in Wheat Ridge.He also has four step-children.
Dean joined the Arvada Fire Department in 1965 and retired in 1987 after 22 years of service.He was assigned to Station 1.During his time as a volunteer fireman, he was appointed as Department Chaplain and rose to the rank of Captain.He was also Department Treasurer.He participated in several outdoor fire service organizations and associations during those 22 years, including the Joint Council of Colorado Fire Services, the Jefferson County Grand Jury Fire & Safety Advisory Committee, and the State Auditor's Fire & Police Pension Committee.
While Dean was a volunteer fireman, the fire protection district was in need of a full-time manager.He applied and was hired as the first full-time employee, and became District Manager in 1969.He held this position for 16 years.He was a lobbyist at the State Legislature for the department and the Colorado State Fire Fighters Association for 9 years, assisting in the passage of many of the laws that benefitted the volunteer fire service, including the revamping of the volunteer firefighters' pension, several increased benefits including vesting, and an increase on the state match of local pension mill levies.During this time of service, he became a lifetime honorary member of the Colorado Firefighters Association.
Following Dean's employment as District Manager, he advanced in his firefighting career, becoming the first Director of the Division of Fire Safety for the State of Colorado, a position he held for 8 years from 1985 to 1993.During this time, he was involved in establishing fire safety and training programs, and fire fighter certification programs for fire departments state-wide, and was Colorado Fire Training Director.As State Training Director, he represented Colorado at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, from 1987 to 1993.One of his major accomplishments as director was getting National Accreditation approved for the Colorado Fire Fighter certification programs.Another accomplishment was obtaining legislation that required all fire suppression systems in Colorado to be installed by registered fire suppression system contractors and be inspected by certified inspectors.He also fought to ensure that all casinos in Colorado be protected by fire sprinkler systems regardless of their size.
Dean transferred to the western slope in 1992 and stepped down to the position of Deputy Director in 1993.He held this position until his retirement in April of 1998, working out of his home in Palisade.
He received a commendation certificate from the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives, presented to him on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 25, 1998, recognizing his 33 years of distinguished service to the citizens of Colorado from 1965 to 1998.He also received the Colorado flag that flew over the Capitol Building on April 30, 1998, the date of his retirement.
Because of a need for western slope representation, Dean accepted a part-time position with the Division of Fire Safety in May of 1998 and currently holds that position, conducting fire sprinkler system inspections and approving fireworks licenses and certifications.
Since moving to Palisade, Dean was elected Mayor for 6 of the 9 years he served on the Palisade Town Board of Trustees.
When he has time for hobbies, he likes to do woodworking projects.
This energetic and capable guy sees homeland security being of the utmost importance since September 11, 2001.As a result of terrorism, he recognizes that the safety of the nation's people has taken on a different perspective, and is therefore of top priority.He realizes that fire safety will need to expand to include added duties for protection of the state's citizens.In his lifetime of experiences with the fire service he has gotten to know many extraordinary people and he feels "There is nobody better and more dedicated than the nation's firefighters."
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