Three deputy fire chiefs, who have logged 159 years of collective service, were honored Nov. 8 at a retirement ceremony that featured praise and lots of laughter.

“All three of these gentlemen have my total respect,” Fire Chief Tom Joyce said. “Deputy Chief Charlie Blanchette is a former Wareham firefighter, but we’re not going to hold that against him.”

Joyce spoke to friends and family of the retiring firefighters who gathered at the Marion VFW for a banquet, ceremony and dancing. Selectmen, Town Administrator Paul Dawson and many department members also attended.

In addition to Blanchette, Deputy Chiefs Scott Cowell and William MacDougal were recognized at the retirement ceremony.

MacDougal joined the department in 1952 and is the longest serving member of the three.

Joyce said MacDougal served many years as a training officer. He developed training methods that are still used by department members to this day.

“It’s amazing to go back into the archives and see the handwritten records he transcribed,” Joyce said. “The level of training he provided in Marion was equal to anything offered in the Commonwealth.”

Joyce did ask MacDougal to clarify one item in his personal file.

Saying he found it recently, Joyce said the file listed MacDougal’s height, weight and eye color, “And under hair color he wrote blond. Can anyone here confirm he was ever a blond?” Joyce asked. MacDougal, who is bald, lifted his hat and the crowd cheered.

Though he’s officially retired, MacDougal will continue to assist the department by assessing potential recruits, Joyce said.

Blanchette, a former Marine, joined the department in 1963. Joyce recalled that one time Blanchette was tasked with delivering a department truck for maintenance service. Halfway to his destination the truck caught fire. Blanchette extinguished the flames, but suffered minor injuries.

After that, Blanchette and Assistant Chief Allen Dunham traveled to Alabama to purchase another truck – at a great price.

“I don’t know how they did it,” Joyce said. “But they saved the town a lot of money and found an excellent truck.”

Selectmen presented the retiring firefighters with gifts.

Chair Jon Henry, who served on the department from 1964 to 1999, noted he had worked alongside all three. He singled out their bravery, both in town and abroad.

Henry commended Cowell’s service in the Coast Guard during the Vietnam War.

“Generally, (Coast Guard) members are posted a few miles off shore, but (Cowell) was on a river boat patrol. It was a dangerous assignment.”

While the firefighters are no longer on the department’s roster, Joyce said they won't be forgotten.

“When you retire from the Marion Fire Department you don’t have to roll hoses or run into a burning building,” Joyce said. “But the department is yours as long as you’re alive. They will always be members.”