By Gina Potthoff
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A midlife crisis led Scott Daly back to a lifelong dream.
Nine months ago, the 38-year-old worked in sales in Nashville, Tenn. But the call to serve compelled the Clintonville native to come back to Ohio and enroll in the Columbus Division of Fire recruit class that began June 14.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Daly said yesterday afternoon as he and 47 others graduated after 32 weeks of fire, EMS and building-inspection training. “For me it was just about public service,” he said.
Daly’s recruit class is the first to graduate from the training academy since 2008. It also is the first to train at the fire division’s new $8 million facility at 3639 Parsons Ave., said Battalion Chief David Whiting.
The Division of Fire, which has more than 1,500 firefighters, is preparing for an onslaught of retirements this year. Nearly 85 firefighters will retire in 2011, Public Safety Director Mitchell J. Brown said yesterday, in part because of a deferred-retirement program for safety forces.
Two more fire recruit classes are in the city budget proposed by Mayor Michael B. Coleman, and the City Council is expected to vote on a final budget Jan. 31.
There wasn’t funding for recruit classes in 2007 and 2009, Whiting said.
Yesterday, the recruits sat stoically in sharp black uniforms and shiny shoes as their friends and families cheered and applauded those who will protect people and their most precious possessions.
“You will be caring for people on one of the worst days of their lives,” said Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. “You will become a lifeline for others.”
The mayor, City Council President Andrew J. Ginther and other public officials thanked the recruits in advance for their service.
The new firefighters range in age from 24 to 53, and the average age is 34.
The only woman in the group, Wendy Duke, 34, celebrated after the ceremony with her five children, ages 5 to 14, and her husband, Brian, who is a Columbus police officer.
As to why the former stay-at-home mom chose a field that will send her into burning buildings, the Pataskala resident said she wanted to help others.
“I know it’s a cliche,” she said. "(But) you can do anything you put your mind to.”
Thirteen of the recruits have relatives in the fire service, Whiting said. For example, two of Daly’s uncles and seven of his cousins are firefighters in New York.
The training was tough, Daly said, but he couldn’t be happier with his decision.
Daly’s next order of business is moving his wife, Pam, and their 7-year-old daughter, Nora, and all their belongings permanently to a new home in Dublin.
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