One of the original Orangeburg County fire commissioners announced his retirement from the commission Monday.

North resident and Orangeburg County Fire Commission Vice Chairman Alex J. Dibble announced his retirement after 11 years of service. His retirement will be effective Jan. 1, 2009.

The 84-year-old Dibble, who has served as commissioner for District 5, has been experiencing some heart-related health issues.

Dibble was appointed to the board when the Orangeburg County Fire District was established in 1997 to finance fire service in rural areas. He is the third of the original seven commissioners to resign.

"This is the longest time I have ever spent on one job," Dibble said, joking. "I am going to miss coming down to the meetings. It has been a privilege, an honor and a pleasure."

Dibble said he was happy to see the district grow over his tenure.

"It goes to show you what can happen when people get together and work with a common purpose in mind," he said.

Prior to joining the commission, Dibble worked in greenhouse management in several states including Massachusetts, North Carolina, Iowa and Connecticut.

After his greenhouse career, Dibble taught science and pre-vocation courses in Branchville and North schools.

A graduate of Clemson University, Dibble went on to receive his master's degree from Ohio State University.

Dibble and his wife, Joyce, have been married 57 years. They have three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Orangeburg County Fire System Coordinator Gene Ball expressed his appreciation for Dibble's work.

"You have been a great benefit. You have given to your community and the entire fire district," Ball said. "We are going to miss you, but we will stay in touch."

Other commissioners also praised and thanked Dibble for his faithful service in making the county fire district better.

County Council Vice Chairwoman Janie Cooper, who represents District 5, praised Dibble for his faithful and conscientious service to the district.

"He has been a great asset to the Fire Commission," Cooper said. "He gave everything he had. I regret that he is resigning. He is one of the backbones of the commission since its inception."

Cooper has appointed school teacher Idella Carson to serve in Dibble's seat. Carson teaches at Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5's New Vision Alternative School located at the Nelson C. Nix Educational Center in Orangeburg.

She received her bachelor's degree from Claflin University, a master's degree from South Carolina State University and has done further work at Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and Lincoln University in Oxford, Pa.

Cooper said Carson will continue to move the district forward.

In other business:

* Commissioners approved a 5 percent match for a $46,181 Federal Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security equipment grant for the Bowman Fire Department. The grant will be used for the purchase of a thermal imaging camera, extrication tools and fire radios.

* Ball said the implementation of the districtwide accountability system is ongoing.

* Commissioners learned a special called meeting may be needed in December to discuss fire district business.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com

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