Farmington Hills Firefighter Denny Hughes Retires After 30-Plus Years

As veteran Detroit Red Wings team captain Nicklas Lidstrom announced his retirement late last month, Lt. Denny Hughes made an announcement of his own.

After more than 30 years with the department, Hughes is leaving a career that has fit him like a glove since 1981, when he answered an advertisement about training for future firefighters in the Farmington Observer.

"Within about a week of being in that class, I knew that was going to be my thing," said Hughes, who thought he would follow in his father's footsteps as a Detroit police officer. The unity, brotherhood and excitement of the fire service attracted him, along with the team atmosphere, he said. 

Hughes started working with a group of firefighters who were "old traditionalists" who had a real passion for the service, he said. "They were really my first mentors in the fire department, and some of them are still around," he said. 

As the city has grown, Hughes said, so have the number of fire calls. When he started, firefighters were responding to about 200 calls a year. These days, the department handles around 8,000. There's not as much time for polishing up the equipment and tinkering with fire trucks, activities Hughes said he loved as a young firefighter. 

Determined to make the grade

He recalls being so anxious to graduate from the fire academy that when he hurt his wrist in the last month, he decided to wait to go to the doctor until after graduation. "The last month was a lot of physical and practical stuff, and I can remember using the pipe poles and axes ... I had such pain, it would just vibrate up my arm," he said.

When he finally got it checked, Hughes learned his wrist was broken, so he spent his first two months as a firefighter with a cast on his arm. "I kept it a secret a long time," he said. "I was really determined."

Rich Marinucci, who was fire chief at the time, encouraged firefighters to get involved with the public, and Hughes found he really enjoyed doing fire safety education with students and the public. He has served as fire inspector and, after being promoted to Lieutenant, moved into working with public information.

Hughes was among the firefighters who participated in a walk to New York after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. "That's the most touching thing I've ever been involved with," he said. "It's a part of history." 

Looking back on his career, Hughes most remembers the nine life-saving awards he has received. "I think when anybody in the fire service gets down to it," he said, "to give a total stranger a new lease on life, that's really what it's all about."

While his schedule has kept him busy, he said, "The silver lining of working in Farmington Hills is I didn't have to work 24-hour shifts. I don't think I've missed anything in my kids' lives."

The Hughes' have three children: Bryan, 21, is studying engineering at Michigan Tech; Kevin, 19, is studying marketing management at Northwood University; and Kelly is a senior at Hartland High School. 

As he looks forward, Hughes said, there are a few trips in his future, some on a new Harley Davidson Road King his family gave him in honor of his retirement. His wife, Jackie, has been battling ovarian cancer for four years, and Hughes said he also wants to make sure she "doesn't work a day that she doesn't want to." 

He will also continue a side job he started with his father, Jack, who started a private detective agency after his retirement. Jack Hughes was the first National Hockey League (NHL) security representative for the Detroit Red Wings, a position he has held for the past 38 years. Denny joined his father in 2000-2001 and recently was given the contract after his father decided to step back.

That connection with the team got Hughes a private photo op with Lidstrom last week, to celebrate both of their retirements. 

Even though he's hanging up his fire hat, Hughes said he will stop in at Farmington Hill Fire Department now and then. 

"I'm very fortunate to have found something I love to do every day of my life," he said. "I work with people who are professional, caring and compassionate ... There's a certain bond, and to be part of that is very special. It's family." 

Correction: Lt. Hughes served as fire inspector before being promoted to his current position, and the security work he does is for the National Hockey League (NHL).