Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Even on his last day, retiring Charlotte Fire Chief Luther Fincher put in some work.
For most of Friday he sat in the kitchen of Station No. 8, shaking hands and slapping the backs of people wishing him a happy retirement. He also posed for more than a few pictures and did some interviews with TV stations.
But by lunchtime, he and other firefighters had responded to two medical calls.
A final sendoff, which includes goodbyes and well-wishing from other firefighters, is tradition among Charlotte firefighters. Fincher worked at Station No. 8 on the Plaza from 1973 to 1981. His son is a captain there now.
“It’s sinking in,” the older Fincher said, dressed in the standard blue firefighter’s uniform. “I cleaned out my office and gave the keys to the new fire chief. My car’s full of junk.”
Fincher retired after 42 years of service, 20 as chief. Deputy Chief Jon Hannan now heads the department.
Fincher says he feels that he’s “done everything I could to make the job as safe as possible for firefighters.”
Those changes include an incident command system that puts a supervisor at every fire scene. He also lobbied the legislature to require tobacco companies to make cigarettes that are less likely to start house fires.
Fincher’s retirement is one of several departures announced recently by leaders of public safety departments in Mecklenburg County.
Last month, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrel Stephens said he’ll retire in 2008. Sheriff Jim Pendergraph left on Dec. 1 to take a job in Washington, D.C. And Donnie Beard, the county fire marshal for 33 years, also recently retired.
Today, Fincher says he’ll attend the Meineke Car Care Bowl. After that, he’ll work with several fire safety commissions and boards.
He also found the wristwatch of a captain who retired more than a decade ago. He plans to return it in person sometime next week.
Fincher said it would be a while before it sinks in that he’s retired, not just on vacation. In his years at the department, he’s never taken more than two weeks off.
“It’s been a wonderful 42 years and I’ve enjoyed every day,” he said. “Though I’ve enjoyed some days more than others.”
“When you become the oldest person in the fire department, there’s only one thing left for you to do.”
Copyright 2007 The Charlotte Observer
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News