Every year, members of the volunteer fire department in Rosinton get together and hand out awards to each other. And every year, the deputy chief is in attendance, shaking hands and smiling for photos.

His name is Gayle LaCoste, but everyone knows him as “Deputy Dawg.” Even his badge boasts the moniker.

This year marks a milestone for the Rosinton department and LaCoste. Tuesday night at the Wolf Bay Lodge, among the one-year service awards handed out to department “rookies,” one award was given for 30 years of dedicated and diehard service. While Rosinton boasts its 14th birthday, LaCoste has been fighting fires and raising funds for volunteer departments for the past three decades.

“During all my years, I always gave it my best,” LaCoste said.

At 88 years old, the man is still giving all he has to Rosinton and its mutual aid departments.

“He makes every meeting on Tuesdays. Every meeting, he is there,” Rosinton Chief Chris Warren said

LaCoste’s wife passed away two years ago. Even while she was sick, he made it to as many meetings as he could, Warren said.

Warren has known LaCoste most of his life, and has worked with him since he was 14 years old. LaCoste himself was born and raised one mile from the fire station in Styx River. Both men are retired military.

“One day we were driving back from a call, and he pulled over and told me, ‘It’s time for you to learn how to drive a fire truck,” Warren said. “He’s all about the younger generation learning and carrying forward.”

In 1997, LaCoste was one of the founding members of the Rosinton and Gateswood departments after they split from Styx River. LaCoste had been volunteering with the Styx River department since its inception in 1980.

“My priorities have always been, first, to save lives, and second, to save property,” LaCoste said. “It’s an unthankful job.”

Rosinton now has two fire stations for the volunteer department. Fire Station 1 has been named after LaCoste, and bears his 1998 State Fireman of the Year Plaque on its walls.

“His house is held up by plaques on the walls,” Warren said. “He’s won so many awards. They know him all over the state. But they call him ‘Deputy Dawg,’ ‘Mr. LaCoste’ or ‘Sarge’.”

Most people around Rosinton just call him “Mr. Gayle.”

These days, LaCoste focuses more on fundraising and training for incoming volunteers, but he’s not too age-weary to make it out to a call every now and then.

“He’s still going strong,” Assistant Chief Brian Martin said. “Whenever I hear him come on the radio, it makes my day.”

“They kept me on to put my signature on things,” LaCoste said. “Luckily I’m still around to do it after 88 years.”

Other Awards

Along with honoring LaCoste for 30 years of service, the Rosinton officers also recognized first-year volunteer Michael Shambo as “firefighter of the year” and Lou Brown, the board president’s wife, as “rookie of the year.”

“Shambo makes it out to 90 percent of the calls and he’s not even old enough to drive the truck,” Warren said.

Shambo has completed almost all the training offered to volunteer firefighters.

“This guy has a future at a paid department somewhere,” Warren said.

Brown was named “rookie of the year” for efforts and helping the volunteers out when she can and directing traffic.

“If there’s a call, she’ll get out there with her vest and her wand and she’ll stay out there as long as she needs to,” Warren said. “She’ll stay out there until we tell her she needs to come in.”