Leslie “Les” Doty grew up in Orleans Township knowing that he wanted to make a difference in his community.
Approximately 60 years after becoming a firefighter, Doty is retiring with the knowledge that he’s succeeded.
Doty, who has served as chief of the Orleans Township Fire Department since 1968, was honored for his service and commitment to the department and the community with a ceremony on Monday evening.
Born and raised in Orleans Township, Doty first became a fireman in 1962, when the Orleans Township Fire Department hadn’t even been formed yet.
“Before we started the fire department, we had the Orleans Township Civil Defense Department in the early 1960s,” Doty recalled. “We built a building for our firetrucks by ourselves back then, which we had for a few years.”
When the Orleans Township Fire Department was formed in 1968, Doty was promptly named chief. He continued to hold that title up until his retirement on April 1.