In late March, Jim Millice of the Wellman Volunteer Fire Department was honored at the Iowa Fireman’s Association meeting as Iowa Fireman of the Year. Millice, who has been a member of the WVFD …
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In late March, Jim Millice of the Wellman Volunteer Fire Department was honored at the Iowa Fireman’s Association meeting as Iowa Fireman of the Year. Millice, who has been a member of the WVFD for 62 years, was the only individual to receive the award.
Millice still attends meetings and helps with training.
“I’m just trying to keep guys safe, helping with training to help them be the best they can be,” he said.
Millice said that while his role has changed over the past 62 years, he is still excited to be a part of the fire department in any way that he can.
“I had attained the rank of assistant chief for a few years, but then in 2004 I had a heart attack and bypass surgery, so then I stayed away from the end of the nozzle,” Millice said. “I did gopher work for them, filling tanks and stuff for them on the outside. Also, a lot of kitchen work.”
During the WVFD tenderloin meal fundraiser on April 9, Millice was busy stocking buns and helping assemble the 1,100 meals they served to the community.
“I’ve stayed because I like being around them,” he said of the WVFD. “They’re like a family.”
Millice first joined the department after watching his dad serve while Millice was in grade school and high school. He said he enjoys watching younger members of the department learn and grow into themselves as firefighters.
There are currently five members of the WVFD who are still attending high school, and Millice said he loves having them around.
“They are amazing young people,” he said. “They’ve taken the firefighter 1 training, so they’re qualified. Once they graduate from high school, they can go out and apply for jobs at a big city fire department. Having them around takes some of the load off the older guys like me. I never have to worry about should I go there or should I not? I don’t worry any more.”
Millice was awarded Fireman of the Year in Ames and said the honor was a complete surprise, even though he can’t imagine his life without having been a firefighter for so long.
“It feels great,” he said. “I’m so thankful for these last [62] years.”
