Tuesday, February 7, 2006 By Kate House-Layton, Delaware State News     DELMAR — Delmar Volunteer Fire Co.’s motto is ‘service to others.’

The motto is printed on the fire company’s stationery and the wall in the firehouse.

It also was a mantra by which longtime fire company member Joseph Morris Sr. lived, friends said.

Mr. Morris, 62, of Delmar, died Saturday at the Delmar fire station while visiting with colleagues.

He was born in Delmar, Md., but lived on the Delaware side of town for most of his life.

Mr. Morris served the fire company for 38 years, holding every line office and serving as chief for 22 years, fire company chaplain Harry Naugle said.

Mr. Morris also was past president of the Sussex County Fire Chiefs’ Association and was training to be an instructor at the Delaware State Fire School.

“He was what I called one of the good guys,” said Kevin Wilson, president of the state chiefs’ in 2003-04.

Members of the fire company and Downstate fire fighting community were stunned and saddened by Mr. Morris’ sudden death.

“It affects many, many people, because it is a brotherhood, it is a true brotherhood,” said longtime friend and fellow fire fighter Mike Lowe.

    “What I would remember would be his dedication. No matter what transpired in Delmar’s district, Joe Morris was there unfazed.”

Mr. Naugle described Mr. Morris as very accessible, often taking younger fire company members under his wing.

“It was just a fatherly instinct,” he said.

Mr. Morris’ son, Joseph Morris Jr., who served with him in the fire company, said his father could be brash and compassionate when it came to firefighters.

He said he sometimes would spend several minutes telling a firefighter what they did wrong, but made peace with them in the end and seldom held a grudge.

The younger Mr. Morris, who also worked with his father for Norfolk Southern Railroad, said he not only lost a father but a fire chief and a boss.

“Everywhere I go, he was there,” he said.

Although his father was often gone with the railroad or serving the fire company, his family understood, his son said.

“He didn’t have a whole lot of hobbies,” he said. “His only hobby was helping others.”

His father enjoyed being a fireman and being fire chief.

    “There will never be another one like him, unless they resurrect Patton,” his son said.

“I hope when he’s looking down on me, I live up to his expectations because I never wanted to disappoint him. I always wanted him to be proud of me.”

Mr. Lowe, an instructor at the Delaware State Fire School and a member of Laurel Fire Deparment, said Mr. Morris’ passing is a significant loss to the fire fighting community because of his years of experience.

“Couldn’t be replaced,” he said.

Today, he said, it takes at least 200 hours to adequately train a firefighter, making a fireman with 38 years of service invaluable.

“He ate, slept and drank Delmar Fire Department,” Mr. Naugle said.

The chaplain said that when he thinks of Mr. Morris, he thinks of a Bible passage that says, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’

“He did his job well and he was good and he was faithful,” Mr. Naugle said.



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