By Len Barcousky
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Copyright 2007 P.G. Publishing Co.
EVERGREEN, Pa. — Frank K. Mann may be stepping down as chief of the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Co., but he plans to remain active in the community.
Chief Mann, 58, was Evergreen’s chief for 30 years and spent another 15 years as a member of the fire company.
He was honored Monday with a plaque presented by Ross commissioners at their business meeting. He also was guest of honor at a testimonial dinner in January.
“I’ve been alive for as many years as Frank has served,” Commissioner David Mikec said. His colleagues marked Mr. Mikec’s 45th birthday with a cake at the same meeting during which Chief Mann was honored.
Township residents appreciate Chief Mann’s service, said Commissioner Daniel DeMarco, who represents the township’s 1st Ward, where the Evergreen fire hall is located.
A life member of the company, Chief Mann plans to help with fund raising and company administration.
He was a student at North Hills High School when he joined the department as a junior member. Now, two of his four children are volunteer firefighters. Thomas Mann is assistant chief at Evergreen, and Richard Mann serves in Mars.
Chief Mann worked for more than 30 years as a tractor-trailer driver, first for Consolidated Freightways and later for Yellow Freight, before retiring in October 2006.
The biggest fire he recalled fighting was the 1975 blaze that destroyed part of the Beverly Hills Hotel on Evergreen Road. “There must have been six or seven companies called out,” he said. “Surprisingly, no one was hurt.”
What did he like about firefighting? “Doing something to help people,” he said.
Like many fire companies around the country, Evergreen has struggled with the dual problems of retaining volunteers and raising money.
“I think we spend 95 percent of our time raising funds and training. When I started, it was a hobby. Now it is like a full-time job,” he said.
“It’s been an honor to serve,” he said. “It’s not that I am going anywhere, but I am going to try to relax a bit.”