Saturday was a big night for Bill McGowan, who is weeks away from marrying one of his fellow firefighters.

First, as president of the 19 firefighters, he accepted a $2,500 check from Monsanto which Lyle Springsteen won, then he accepted his second trophy as Firefighter of the Year. He also won in 2006.

McGowan, who turns 26 Thursday, graduated from Union High School in 2004.

Inspired for fire service by his grandfather, a 52-year Mendon fireman, Bill learned about the 24-year-old Wayne Township Fire Department from his DUHS history teacher, township Clerk Kurt Reich.

Then it was just a “countdown” until he became old enough to join. That was seven years ago.

May 21 at Stanek’s pond he will wed Saugatuck transplant Markie Rutter.

He met his soon-to-be bride answering a grass fire call.

She has been an ambulance attendant as well as a former Dowagiac firefighter before joining Wayne Township a year ago.

So on that upcoming Saturday afternoon of their nuptials, the couple will have a couple of external anxieties — good weather for their outdoor vows and that nothing burns down, emptying their wedding of its guests.

Firefighting is “something I always wanted to do,” said McGowan, who works at Midway Engineering and is appreciative of his employer’s understanding if he needs to be summoned away from the job.

The department responded to 99 calls in 2010.

“We had one fireman who had to do a fire run on his lunch hour,” recalled township Supervisor Dr. Frank Butts, who has been with the department all 24 years, as have four others present.

“This individual’s boss told him, ‘If you do that again, you’re fired.’ (McGowan’s) mom came into the animal hospital quite frequently and for about a year she would say, ‘How much longer before my son can get on the fire department?’ ”

Chief Harry Wickett arrived late from Clarksville, Tenn.

Butts said the $2,500 Springsteen won in a contest sponsored by the farm chemicals company and donated to the department replaced 10-year-old pagers.

An audience at the township hall included County Commissioner Bob Wagel, county Treasurer Linda Irwin, fire board members and the township board, including Treasurer Judy Fusko and Trustees Jim Griggs, also a fire captain with 24 years on the department, and Michael Krager, Volinia Township Supervisor Gwenn Johnson and Volinia Township Clerk Brenda Butler.