Greenwich Honors Longtime Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company Chief

GREENWICH, CT — After 50 years at the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Company, including 40 as chief, believed to be the longest tenure for any chief in Connecticut, New England and perhaps the country, the town of Greenwich is saying "thank you" to Richard "Rick" Strain Jr.

Strain officially stepped aside in July and handed the reins of Greenwich's only all-volunteer fire company over to his daughter, Sharon. Strain will remain active with the fire company in an assistant district chief role and will continue to help with the leadership transition.

On Monday at Town Hall, Strain was honored by his colleagues and the town for his decades of service.

Calling Strain "a true guardian of the Backcountry," First Selectman Fred Camillo issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 16, 2023, as Volunteer District Chief Richard Strain Jr., Day in Greenwich, and he urged residents to recognize Strain's contributions to the RHVFC and the town.

Under Strain's watch, the RHVFC responded to 13,917 emergency calls over 40 years, good for at least one call per day, Camillo said.

"Fifty years as a volunteer, 40 years as chief. Those are Hall of Fame numbers," Camillo said. "What an amazing run... this is a big day for your family and Round Hill."

Strain told Patch it was time for him to step aside. He joined the RHVFC in 1973 only a few months after he graduated high school. He was appointed chief in 1983.

"Forty years seemed to come and go very quickly. I've enjoyed just about every minute of it. I know I'm leaving the department in capable hands," Strain said.

In thinking about Strain's run of leadership, former RHVFC President and current member David Chass did some research. He called the Connecticut Volunteer Fire Council, and then the National Volunteer Fire Council looking for information.

"They asked around, and nobody could think of somebody who has had a longer tenure. You have people who are volunteers for 50 years and they start as teenagers, but not the idea of being a chief for that long," Chass said. "Fifty years is just extraordinary. He is just unbelievably committed to this district."

RHVFC President Sebastian Lux praised Strain for his leadership style and the institutional knowledge he brought to the job.

"Whatever issue there is, you know you're on a team that you've got a coach who is really ready to stand up and protect his guys," Lux said. "We're going into different situations every single time, and the amount of knowledge he has, he's done every scenario there is under the sun. You feel very confident arriving knowing that."

RHVFC member T.G. Rawlins has known Strain for 50 years — they joined the fire company around the same time. Rawlins served as chief for a couple of years before Strain took over.

One word that stands out to Rawlins when he thinks about Strain is "dedication."

Strain exemplified that one day about five years ago when he was vacationing at his weekend home some four hours away.

"He drove down when we had a working fire," Rawlins recalled. "He dropped everything and came down. I'm thinking, 'Why would you do that?' But that's Rick. It would just bother him if he didn't. That just exemplifies his dedication to the fire company and also to the town of Greenwich. If you look up 'volunteer fireman' in the dictionary, his picture should be right next to it."

Strain comes from a firefighting family. His great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and other family members have all worked in fire services, and some were charter members from when the RHVFC was established.

Strain's wife, Linda, is a 45-year RHVFC volunteer, and his son, Will, is a career firefighter in town.

"It's just been a part of my life," Strain said.

The fire company will now remain in the family's hands. Strain said it was "a proud moment" to hand off the leadership role to his daughter this past summer.

Sharon said she was "extremely proud" to see her father honored after his many years of service.

"He's the most deserving of being recognized for all the hard work he's put in for the company and the town, giving back to the community," Sharon said. "He deserves it a lot more than he thinks he does."

While she acknowledged that her new role is "a little stressful," Sharon expressed excitement for the future and a comfortability in knowing her father will still be around to guide her along in these first few months.

"What I'm thankful for is he's stepped down but he's not stepping away. He'll be around for any questions or support I might need for a little while until I grab hold of the position and start moving the company forward as we want," Sharon said.

When asked if there is one piece of advice her father has given her that stands out?

"Stay determined and stay stubborn," Sharon responded. "If there's something you want, go after it."

Strain was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the National Volunteer Fire Council.

Greenwich's delegation to Hartford was at Monday's ceremony at Town Hall, as were all the Greenwich volunteer district chiefs.

This year also commemorates the 75th anniversary of the RHVFC.

RHVFC is an independent volunteer fire company that is affiliated with, but only partially funded by, the Town of Greenwich. Each year its members must raise more than $50,000 to fund its annual operating expenses and also must raise $2 million to fund the firehouse renovation and future purchase of new apparatus and equipment.