The holiday season is often filled with special, magical, and heart-warming moments. For former New Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob DeLancey, such a happening occurred Saturday night at the Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce's New Martinsville Christmas parade. The 85-year-old former chief was able to take a ride down the parade route in the department's flashy new ladder truck. His evening ended with the breathtaking sight of the truck's ladder extended.
Chief DeLancey joined the NMVFD in 1965 and served as chief from 1975 until approximately 1987. One of DeLancey's three daughters, Deb DeLancey said her father was fire chief for almost all of her childhood. He gave up his position shortly after his wife died in 1987.
Deb said her father trained many of the current members of the fire department, who she compares to brothers. She said if she ever wanted to see her dad, she knew to stop by the fire department.