Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Jay Miller (605) 673-9368 or Frank Carroll (605) 673-9200, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

BLACK HILLS CELEBRATES CAREER OF EXTRAORDINARY FIREFIGHTER - GOVERNOR ROUNDS PROCLAIMS JULY 25 "GARY LIPP DAY"

CUSTER, SD: JULY 22, 2008

A wiry kid with a great smile and sense of humor wandered into the Custer Ranger District office on July 12, 1970, to begin a storied career, first as a fire control aid and then, by 2008, senior firefighter and fire management officer for the Forest Service in Custer and the Custer Volunteer Fire Department.

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has proclaimed July 25, 2008, as “Gary Lipp Day” in South Dakota to honor this extraordinary man who has given so much to so many, inspiring and teaching generations of firefighters, and dedicating his life and career to the higher calling of public service. Secretary of State Chris Nelson seconded the proclamation.

Rounds said Lipp “embodies the courage, devotion to duty, and love of public service that inspires many in the firefighting community across South Dakota.” Lipp trained to be a school teacher and “instead became a leader and teacher of young firefighters throughout 39 fire seasons” in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming.

Gary “exhibits the highest standards of the fire service in supporting and working with the state of South Dakota’s Division of Wildland Fire, other federal and state agencies, and the many tireless volunteer firefighters who protect our homes every day,” Rounds said.

Lipp fought his first fire in the summer of 1969 south of Lime Kiln near Custer. He said he had no idea it would be the start of a career. He wanted to be a teacher, and he became one of the best teachers many people had ever known, a teacher on the fireline, a professor of catastrophe and how to avert it, a fire scholar who could teach the youngest rookie how to fight fire aggressively but provide for safety first.

Any of the over 100 people who turned out to wish him good luck in his new life last Saturday night at the Heritage Village, especially Gary’s wife, Pam, married 30 years, could tell you about Gary’s work ethic, calmness under fire, and ability to quickly teach and creatively lead young people in life threatening situations, characteristics that set him apart and ensured his leadership role for almost 40 years.
Assistant fire management officer for the Hell Canyon Ranger District, Jay Miller, presented Lipp with a chrome plated Pulaski fire tool, invented by Ranger Ed Pulaski in the wake of the 1910 fires that burned over a million acres of Idaho and Montana. The Pulaski was mounted on a plaque with an 8 inch brass Forest Service shield and a commemorative text, etched in brass.

Firefighting brothers Aaron and Zac Thompson presented Lipp with a cross-cut bucking saw, with the Hell Canyon District logo and Lipp’s name and title cut into the metal by artists at Ruby Creek Ranch.

Lipp’s daughter, Amanda Lipp Lustig, and her children, Ryan, 5 years, and Levy, 11 months, looked on as Lipp introduced them and reminded the audience that Sergeant Eric Lustig, XVIII Airborne Corps, is fighting in Iraq. Lipp’s daughters-in-law, Gwen Sanchez Lipp (the fire and fuels planner on the District) married to Lipp’s youngest son, Andy, and Lori Boggs, life partner of son, Travis, with grandson Emmett, and granddaughter Erica, laughed and cried through the many honors and stories of Lipp’s life and career. Sister Margie Hutton, Margie’s Beauty Salon in Custer, was also on hand helping quiet and focus grandchildren.

Lipp is retiring because at age 57 he would exceed the mandatory retirement time frame established by law to protect firefighters, police officers, and others who risk life and limb in the public service. It was not his idea to leave, Hell Canyon district ranger Mike Lloyd said. “Gary looks 40 and can work circles around the rest of us,” Lloyd said.

Black Hills forest supervisor Craig Bobzien presented Governor Rounds’ proclamation to Gary and Gary’s family at the retirement party.

For more information visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.