1962 was an important year for Arvis Cannon.
He got married and joined the Sweet Home Volunteer Fire Department.
His marriage remains intact but last week, Cannon’s 40 years as a fireman came to an end with a retirement party hosted by his fellow firefighters and families.
They also took time to “roast” the slow-going Cannon. Erv Reynolds said Cannon would get into a “slow hurry” at times and John Marble said it was Cannon who recruited him into the flock.
“He answered a call to a house that was burning next door to ours and told me I should be on the fire department,” Marble said. “He was a good recruiter.”
EMT coordinator Doug Emmert said he will miss Cannon “wandering through” the fire department asking, “Should I put my turn-outs on?”
Ron Fogle praised Cannon for his 40 year dedication. “He was always faithful and got the job done,” Fogle said.
Fire Chief Mike Beaver presented Cannon with a certificate of appreciation from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and a plaque from the local department. Fellow firefighter Dave Trask, on behalf of the crew, presented Cannon with a new jacket bearing the fire department emblem.
Cannon said his family moved to the Crawfordsville area in 1939. He served as a mechanic in the Air Force from 1951 to 1955 and moved to Bandon upon his discharge. He worked in a cheese factory at Langlois until it burned down and then at a plywood co-op.
Cannon returned to Sweet Home in 1962 where he worked for the Truax Oil Company—managed by his brother Cliff— for 11 1/2 years.
He spent 21 1/2 years with Sweet Home Sanitation and retired eight years ago.
“I was living with my brother Cliff in 1962, he was on the fire department and told me they needed more help,” Cannon said of his start with the crew.
Ivan Hoy was fire chief and Ron Fogle was fire marshal at the time. Wayne Smith, previous fire chief, was Cliff Cannon’s father-in-law.
Cannon rose through the ranks of the department to the level of captain.
“It was neat, great,” Cannon said of his experiences with the department.
In the old days, Cannon said, he lived near Long Street and would rush to be first at the fire call so he could drive the truck.
“At that time we had one pumper truck with a 100 foot hose,” Cannon said. “It was a 1955 Chevy with a Buick engine that would really roll. It had straight pipes.”
Cannon said the crew was called out to a fire and was followed by a state patrolman who said that although it was important to get to the fire quickly, 90 miles per hour was probably a bit too much in a fire truck.
Christmas dinners upstairs in the old fire hall were always a fun time of fellowship, Cannon said.
Cannon and his wife, Norene, have three children, Chuck of Hillsboro, Kathy of Portland and John of Sweet Home.
A confessed TV watcher, Cannon said he enjoys working the remote control and loves watching the Atlanta Braves and helping watch his eight grandchildren.
“I’m too busy for hobbies,” Cannon said.