After 34 years of dedication to the Lake of the Ozarks community, Fire Chief Ed Hancock has retired, but he'll still be around.
The Gravois Fire Protection District said goodbye to the chief on Saturday, March 30. However, Hancock will maintain his affiliation with the department as a volunteer division chief. His new role will be to train and evaluate students working toward their state firefighter certifications.
At the retirement party in Laurie, Hancock said, "I want to thank everyone that attended my reception and for all the kind words and thoughts. It has been a bit of a challenge not being on call 24/7."
Over the years, Hancock earned 16 state fire certifications, and that education will continue equipping EMS personnel both locally and statewide. He is also affiliated with 12 associations, and was inducted into the Shootout Hall of Fame for his work to keep the racecourse safe.
"He is 100% dedicated to his firefighters and community," said Administrative Assistant Jodie Hunsaker, who worked with Hancock for 22 years. "No matter the emergency, he always remains cool and has a calming effect on everyone. He was the best boss, very professional and understanding."
Years Of Service
Hancock's service dates back to the '70s when he was a seasonal wildland firefighter for the Missouri Department of Conservation. In 1985 he moved back to his family farm in Glensted (rural Morgan County).
A wildfire later swept through the countryside and destroyed his family home. Hancock saw first-hand the repercussions of too few firefighters. So, he volunteered with the Versailles Rural Fire Department.
After moving to Gravois Mills, he volunteered with the GFPD. Then he was later promoted to captain, assistant chief, and finally fire chief.
On the chief's uniform are five crossed trumpets, the insignia denoting that person's rank.
"That fifth trumpet adds a lot of weight to an officer on call 24/7," Hancock explained. "As a fire chief, you are now responsible for all personnel, equipment, district assets, and the citizens in the community you serve. It is a very heavy burden. It is not a job one takes lightly or does halfway."
But the reward is worth it.
"As a firefighter, when you go to work, someone is having a bad day. So we do everything we can to make a more positive outcome of their bad situation," Hancock said. "The reward comes from the number of people you are able to help along the way."
When he started with the GFPD, it was an all-volunteer fire association, paid for by citizen subscriptions. In 1992, voters approved the department to be a tax-supported district, but it was still all volunteer based.
It wasn't until 2007 that the first career staff were hired. Under Hancock's leadership, the district added two more operational fire houses. The budget also increased from $280,000 to approximately $1.5 million.
“It has been an uphill battle keeping the district up to speed with the evolution of the Lake area,” Hancock said. “Over the years, we transitioned from family weekend fishing cabins to retirement, seasonal homeowners, and then condominiums. Covid brought work from home employees from across the nation."
The district began with about 300 calls per year, and has increased to more than 1,500 in 2023.
According to Hancock, no fire department at the Lake has enough volunteers, who are needed during emergencies.
"We have to depend on each other for mutual aid," Hancock said. "It has come to the point where if there were no names or colors on our trucks and bumper gear, the public would not even know we were from different fire, ambulance, and law enforcement districts. We train together and work as one."
To become a volunteer, one must:
- be 18 years old
- live in or near the district boundary
- have a valid driver's license
- have no felony or convictions of crimes against people
A New Legacy
The Hancock name will continue on at the Gravois FPD. His son, Dustin, was hired as the new fire chief. He assumed the role on April 1.
“The priority for me will be to continue to meet the needs of the growing community," Dustin said.
Dustin Hancock started his career in 1996 as a GFPD Junior Volunteer Firefighter. He transitioned to firefighter, served as volunteer deputy chief, and EMS director.
Before coming home to the Gravois district, Sunrise Beach FPD hired Dustin as their training officer. Later, the Lake Ozark FPD made him Battalion Chief. Now the GFPD's fleet is nearly 20 years old, and the cost of fire trucks has increased dramatically.
“I want to go slow, make a six-month, one year, and five-year plan for both finances and volunteers," Fire Chief Dustin Hancock said. "We need to cut expenses in a way that will not affect services and hopefully insurance ratings.”
While the current chief is usually heavily involved in the hiring process for a replacement, Hancock had to step back. A committee of officers previewed the applications and made recommendations to the GFPD Board of Trustees.
"I am honored Dustin was hired chief," Hancock said. "He has known the GFPD community from the start. It all boils down to someone coming back with a genuine knowledge of, and interest in, the agency."
Retirement With The Dreamer
Ed and Pam, who've been married for 50 years, plan to travel the country doing what they love: attending van shows in their custom van. They have renovated several vehicles, but their favorite is a 1978 Dodge Dreamer with a short/dually bed. It was owned by a highly-decorated WWII veteran and featured on the TV show Count Customs (Season 2, Episode 5).
"It has been quite a ride," Hancock said. "We took the life experiences and skills of good people and put them together toward the benefit of our community. I am thankful for the connection between firefighters and community - they have always supported us."
Retired Chief Hancock In The Community
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