Memorial service honors former La Plata fire chief

Chiefs, firefighters from across Southern Maryland pay respects to beloved Echols

Generations of firefighters whose lives had been influenced by former Fire Chief Garyton Colvard Echols Jr. gathered in the equipment bay of the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Thursday evening along with family and friends to commemorate his eventful life and many careers.

Known to all as “Gary,” Echols, 85, died on Friday, Oct. 26, at the Hospice of Charles County, a little over a week after his birthday.

Chaplain Joe Gardiner, chaplain of the St. Mary’s and La Plata Volunteer Fire Departments, officiated at the Fireman’s Prayer

Service, for which the department draped its historic 1929 Seagrave 1 and 1962 B-Model Mack fire trucks in black and stationed them behind Echols’ casket surrounded by arrays of flowers, Echols’ portrait and his firefighting helmet and jacket.

Echols, a life member of LPVFD for 59 years, served as chief for 11 years and president for five, and held many other offices over his career. As an instructor at the Maryland Institute of Fire and Rescue, he trained a generation of first responders, many of whom have since become fire chiefs in their own right and continue to pass along Echols’ lessons.

LPVFD president Matthew E. Gilroy and other past chiefs recounted many stories, both light and profound, from their time serving with Echols, as did members of Echols’ family.

The highlight of the ceremony was a silent pass in review of Echols’ casket, during which all the uniformed firefighters walked slowly up the center aisle in pairs to salute slowly. In tribute, they all left their hats on their seats as they lined up.

Stephen C. Shahan, LPVFD chief from 1990 through 2009 and a current member of the board of directors, who eulogized Echols, told the Maryland Independent that he tries to pass along the lessons that Echols taught him as a young firefighter.

“Some of the biggest impact he had on me, especially as a chief, was to let your people do their job,” Shahan said. “Empower them to do it and keep them in the fold. Be like a shepherd to them and steer them in the right direction. Give them good advice and they’ll do the right thing.”

“He was a believer that we need to get out the door and on the street as soon as the call comes in, because time is the enemy,” Shahan said.

Family and friends paid tribute to Echols earlier in the day at the Areholt-Echols Funeral Home on St. Mary’s Avenue, which Echols owned and which his son David manages. A funeral mass was held Friday morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata and Echols was laid to rest at St. George Church Cemetery in Valley Lee.

STAFF PHOTO BY PAUL LAGASSE Former La Plata Volunteer Fire Department chief Gary Echols’ shield and insignia were on display during Thursday evening’s memorial service at the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department.

STAFF PHOTOS BY PAUL LAGASSE An honor guard stands at attention as friends and family pay respects to former La Plata Volunteer Fire Department chief Garyton “Gary” Echols, who died on Oct. 26.

Chaplain Joe Gardiner of the La Plata and St. Mary’s Volunteer Fire Departments led Thursday evening’s memorial service for former LPVFD fire chief Gary Echols.

Firefighters from around Southern Maryland joined family and friends for a memorial service Thursday night at the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department for former chief Gary Echols, who died at the age of 85 on Oct. 26.