Capt. Guy Evans only saw retiring Deputy Fire Chief Dale Robert Hutchings yield once — to a boarded-up door in Cassopolis through which he might have plunged onto a roof below.

Evans presented Hutchings with a shadow box containing the “brass” from his uniform and his wife, Pam, with flowers during a retirement tribute to “Hutch” in the fire station prior to a hog roast.

“Dale’s had a 34-year love affair with the City of Dowagiac as a community public servant,” Public Safety Director Tom Atkinson said.

“Dale’s life has been all about public service. Under his leadership as deputy chief, the Fire Department not only changed in two years, but it’s growing stronger. It’s obvious by the turnout here tonight that you’ve touched a lot of people in many different ways.”

The tribute to Hutchings followed dedication of a memorial stone in front of the fire station blessed by the Rev. John Kasper, pastor of First United Methodist Church.

“We continue the Old Testament tradition of the people of Israel erecting standing stones to remind when God does something awesome. He’s given us men and women to step into harm’s way to provide us the safety we need — and that they mostly come back unharmed sounds like a miracle to me.”

Mayor Pro Tem Leon Laylin led off the ceremony, followed with remarks by City Manager Kevin Anderson and Third Ward Councilman Dr. Charles Burling, with accompaniment from the Chieftain Marching Band at camp on the other side of Paul Street.

Burling noted the inscription that to us, firefighters are heroes, to them they’re just performing their jobs.

“Dowagiac has a 157-year history of heroes,” Burling said, “of people leaving their jobs, the security of their homes and families, to protect the lives of the citizens of this community and their property. Although most of the firemen don’t think of themselves as heroes, I do.”

The memorial came about from the loss of five firefighters — three active — in 14 months, 2010-2011: Don Coy, Terry Dodd, former chief Lester Barnes, Bradley Evans and, on Valentine’s Day, Jimmy Keys in an auto accident while continuing his emergency services education.

Memorial donations contributed allowed the city to erect the monument.

“I’m not really sure how long I’ve known Hutch,” Evans said. “He was a police dispatcher when I met him and they were pinning notes to pigeons and flying them out to the squad cars. Radios had not been invented yet. He transferred over to the volunteer fire department from the Hamilton Hose Company. His first job was brushing down the horses.”

When Evans exited the Army in 1987 and joined the Fire Department, he had the cockiness of being in the military and the knowledge he was old enough to “smoke, drink, cuss and swear,” to which Hutchings, in the living quarters with his partner, Ed de Varona, threatened to call his dad, Brad, if he “screwed up.”

“I was anxious to get my feet wet,” Evans said, “and feel some heat from a fire. At that time, Hutch was the notorious door kicker and flame chaser. If you were going to be an aggressive firefighter, you wanted to work with Hutch. My turn came when downtown Cassopolis burned the second time around. Hutch and I were sent up to the second floor of one of the downtown buildings to search apartments up there. Here I am, cocky and just out of the Army, paired up with this Navy guy. No sweat. I grew up at the fire station. I was going to show him. I found out very quickly as we went from apartment to apartment, up and down hallways the length of this building, life would have been much easier if I could have just put roller skates on my knees, grabbed onto his coat tails and held on for dear life. I got to see Hutch give up at a fire scene, which very few people saw. There was a door at the end of the hallway, getting low on air, and we had to make one more search on the other side. We shouldered the door. It didn’t move. We kicked the door. The door laughed at us. We found out later it led to the outside of the building, over the roof. Like fire service leaders before him, he’s going to leave us with many memories, laughs, words of wisdom, new ideas and a catchphrase. Through all of Hutch’s leadership, tenacity and tactical skills, the saying he’ll be renowned for is, ‘Taste this — but don’t ask what it is.’ Only Hutch has ever gone to a barn fire and looked at it as a buffet opportunity. My wife and I are both grateful to Hutch — not only for bringing me home safely, but teaching me how to cook on shifts at the station.”

Jackie leaned over and kissed Dale on the cheek.

“Under Hutch’s guidance, I became not only a better cook, but a better firefighter and then officer. I saw our department improve, too, under Hutch’s demeanor and friendship. Our personnel roster swelled. And through his dedication of hours, sweat and silver hairs, I saw this station house that we’re standing in right now and apparatus around us develop. My only argument with Hutch? I still think olives are good.”

Special guests included Wayne Township Fire Chief Harry Wickett, Supervisor Dr. Frank Butts, Pokagon Township Fire Chief Chuck Bowers and Oshtemo Township Fire Chief Mark Barnes, who started here.

Hutchings’ family filled one of the long tables by itself, including his son and daughter, grandchildren, siblings and his mother, who turns 80 Sunday.

Second Ward Councilman Jim Dodd, a founding member of the volunteer fire department, read the city’s proclamation on behalf of Mayor Don Lyons, recounting Hutchings beginning his 34-year career as a Police Department dispatcher and volunteer firefighter in 1977.

Hutchings, flanked at the head table by Pam, his wife of almost 38 years, became a fulltime firefighter in 1984.

Working his way through the ranks, Dale achieved the status of licensed emergency medical technician (EMT), certified state fire instructor, Level III fire officer, hazardous materials operations, vehicle extrication rescue, a Michigan State Police-certified arson investigator, a certified fire inspector and Dowagiac’s Firefighter of the Year in 1980.

Hutchings was recognized for overseeing the transition of the Fire and Police Departments into the city Department of Public Safety, with Police Chief Tom Atkinson becoming administrative manager and Hutchings and Steve Grinnewald becoming deputy chiefs of their respective departments.

Hutchings, one of three living chiefs along with Harold “Hop” Munson and Wayne Mattix, also led the department through its move from downtown to the renovated highway garage on Wolf Street and the design and delivery of a new fire engine.

Even in retirement, Hutchings, who also served on the city Planning Commission, impressed City Manager Kevin Anderson with his desire to give back to the community, presenting a brick from the previous station he took to St. Joseph and had engraved with its 1959-2009 dates, along with a color photograph of their old outgrown home on Depot Drive behind City Hall.

Hutchings hefted the brick when he playfully warned his colleagues, “I can tell stories, too.”

“He knowingly placed himself in hazardous and potentially dangerous situations to rescue victims of fires and accidents,” Dodd said. “Dale’s dedication to the community, department and fellow firefighters has been an inspiration and an example to others. Dale is still well-respected throughout the City of Dowagiac, the community, the county and the state for his dedication to the fire service … the City of Dowagiac extends its sincere congratulations and its heartfelt gratitude to Deputy Fire Chief Dale R. Hutchings for his many years of excellent service and his contributions to the quality of life in Dowagiac.”

Atkinson introduced Anderson to read a proclamation signed by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, Gov. Rick Snyder, state Sen. John Proos and state Rep. Sharon Tyler.

“It speaks to how Michigan feels about those people who serve as firefighters, not only in this community, but throughout the area,” Anderson said, reading the legislative tribute, which states, “An era of commitment and courage has drawn to a close. As someone who has taken on one of society’s most difficult tasks each day throughout his career, Dale R. Hutchings has earned the respect of the entire City of Dowagiac and all of Michigan. For the many who serve our communities in a variety of roles, one of the most important is that of the firefighter and public safety officer. Without their protection, our homes, our businesses, our very lives would be in jeopardy. The life-threatening tasks that face public safety officers require courage, preparation and knowledge … and continuous education and training … he has been a caring protector and an exemplary citizen … Dowagiac and Michigan are indebted. May he and his family enjoy the same security and well-being that he provided for others.”