Chief spends last day where career began

Chief David L. Stokes wanted to retire from the county Fire Department on his own terms.

So, while it seemed odd for him to spend his last day running calls in the city of Annapolis, he insisted on joining the volunteer firefighters in Eastport during his final hours on the job yesterday.

It's where his career began as a teenager nearly 35 years ago, he said. And it's where he wanted to end it.

At 8:30 a.m., the chief arrived in uniform. He walked inside the station bay at 914 Bay Ridge Ave. and checked the duty sheet to see how he'd be starting his final shift.

"Mop the floors," read the words next to Chief Stokes' name.

"When you're a firefighter, you've got to have a sense of humor," he said. "These guys joke around. No firefighter is safe (from pranks). Not even the chief."

The camaraderie between colleagues is something Chief Stokes, 51, will miss about being a firefighter. He retired yesterday after less than two years at the helm of the county Fire Department.

Appointed by County Executive John R. Leopold to take over today as the county's ninth fire chief is Deputy Chief J. Robert Ray, a 52-year-old Arnold resident who has served in the department since 1977.

He will be sworn in at a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. today.

Chief Stokes, who announced his retirement July 3, said he has mixed emotions about leaving the department.

He said only in the past week or so has he become emotional about it.

It started "hitting home" after he turned in his uniforms, keeping only two button-up shirts and two pairs of pants.

"For 35 years, my closet has been full of uniforms," he said. "The closet is empty on the whole left side. When I got dressed this morning I thought, 'This will be the last time I put this on.' I told my wife we'd better go shopping."

Chief Stokes has had some job offers since he announced his retirement, but hasn't decided what he's going to do.

For now, he plans to take a few months off to spend with his family.

"I haven't had a normal holiday in 35 years," he said. "So it'll be nice to be able to spend (holidays) with my family."

He's also looking forward to spending his free time fixing up muscle cars, a longtime hobby of his.

Chief Stokes has a three-car garage. He has a 1967 GTO and is in the market for a Chevelle to restore.

"It's an expensive habit," he said. "But, I love it."

In the past few weeks, Chief Stokes also has collected plaques, photographs and other gifts celebrating his years of service. Yesterday, County Executive John R. Leopold presented him with a framed picture of a smiling Chief Stokes at age 7, sitting behind the wheel of a fire truck with a much-too-large fire helmet on his head. The helmet belonged to his father, who was the volunteer chief in Eastport. Next to the photo is another picture of Chief Stokes, taken with a few colleagues in front of a fire engine.

Along with the photographs is an inscription: "From a childhood dream to the summit of success … Thank you for more than 30 years of public service to the citizens of Anne Arundel County."

Chief Stokes said he plans to hang the photographs along with a gold firefighter's axe and other gifts on a wall in his home.

Until now, no one entering the Stokes home would know he was a firefighter, he said. The house is packed with Civil War memorabilia.

Deputy Chief John Scholz, who has worked with the chief since his Eastport days, said he's happy for Chief Stokes, but a little sad to see him go.

"If he thinks he's done with us, he's not," he said, laughing.

Standing around the Eastport Volunteer Fire Station yesterday, Chief Stokes shared stories about his years with the fire department.

He talked about the pranks he pulled, and the tricks done to him. He said one time - when he was chief - his colleagues put tape on the bottom of his computer mouse. Chief Stokes slid the mouse around, but couldn't get it to work. A colleague came in, removed the tape without him seeing, and said the mouse was fine. Then, he replaced the tape.

Chief Stokes tried to use the mouse again, and, it didn't work. The charade continued a few times before snickering co-workers finally gave in.

The chief also reminisced about his first years on the job.

"When I first joined, I'd stand at the corner of Van Buren and Bay Ridge and they'd pick me up," on the fire engine on the way to calls, he said.

"I told him I wasn't going to stop and pick him up on the corner anymore," said Capt. Robert Daywalt, who used to drive the engine with the chief.

As the stories poured out, Eastport was quiet yesterday. Chief Stokes stayed at the firehouse from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and not one call for service came in. He next went to Jones Station Fire Station on Ritchie Highway, but suddenly, that firehouse was quiet.

"He's the white cloud," said Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia, a county Fire Department spokesman. "Nothing ever happens when he's around."

Chief Stokes said he's leaving his career on a high note, and on his terms.

"I still have my health, and I think I did a good job as fire chief," he said. "I've seen a lot of people leave this position pretty beaten up, and I'm not. So, I'm happy. It's been a good ride."

He says Chief Ray has what it takes to keep up the good reputation of the county Fire Department.

"I think Chief Ray has all the tools to do a good job," he said. "He's going to be facing some tough decisions though, with the economy and those things."