Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

From left, Battalion Chief John Nelson, driver Jim McMillian and Fire Chief Jack Brown look at photos Saturday afternoon at the St. Joseph Fire Museum. A reception was held for Mr. Brown, who will retire next month.

Teary-eyed firefighters hugged the man who gave them a chance. After 38 years with the St. Joseph Fire Department, Fire Chief Jack Brown is retiring.

The St. Joseph Fire Museum and the Firefighters Local No. 77 hosted a reception for members of the fire department and the public in honor of Mr. Brown’s retirement Saturday afternoon. The three-hour reception included a flag presentation by the Honor Guard, the national anthem and a prayer.

Although delighted at all the guests and warm wishes, Mr. Brown felt a little out of his element during the reception.

“It’s been more of a life than a career,” Mr. Brown said.

The Iowa native came to St. Joseph in 1970 and has no plans to leave anytime soon. He joined the Fire Department on July 1, 1970, and his last official day will be July 7.

Mr. Brown plans to use his free time for vacationing and playing baseball with the wood-bat league he started with high school students. He might chase a firetruck now and then he added.

Battalion Chief John Nelson will fill in for Mr. Brown until a replacement can be found. Mr. Nelson presented Mr. Brown with an advance copy of a book he just finished about the history of the St. Joseph Fire Department, “Run with the Machine,” during the reception.

Mr. Nelson plans to keep things stable for the next chief. He does, however, hope to update the current flood plan before the end of the summer when they hope to have a new chief hired.

“I’ve always admired Jack,” Mr. Nelson said. “I call him Dad sometimes, he’s like family.”

Mr. Brown knew at an early age he wanted to be a firefighter. A picture of him as a child on display at the reception showed a young Mr. Brown seated quite comfortably in a toy firetruck. Other images on display were of fires Mr. Brown had helped battle in St. Joseph. He had no problem remembering where and when each one had happened, even though some occurred more then 30 years ago.

A picture of Mr. Brown hangs in the Fire Museum, where it will remain for years to come.

“No one can fill Jack’s shoes,” Mr. Nelson said. “He will be missed.”

Megan Tilk can be reached at megantilk@npgco.com.