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91-year-old man stuns community with a half-million-dollar donation to its fire department.
In Calhoun, Missouri, population 392, its volunteer fire department was desperate. It had $169 in the bank.
Meanwhile their fire engines, equipment and protective gear dated from the 1980's, and some of those fire engines and equipment no longer functioned.
"It was pretty discouraging," the volunteer fire chief Mark Hardin told The Washington Post. "We'd already been paying for stuff out of our own pockets to keep things going."
And then 91-year-old Sam Sloan called Mark.
(Story continues from "Read More")
After two breakfast meetings, Sam invited Mark to his home. "I walked in the door and Sam said, 'What do you think about this?'"
Sam handed Mark a half-million-dollar check, for the Calhoun Volunteer Fire Department. "I've never seen a check with so many zeros," Mark told The Post.
"I was at a loss for words."
Sam had been successful in the cattle and seed processing businesses, and wanted to make this huge donation.
Sam and his wife Joan live comfortably in their ranch house, on 60 acres.
Raised during the tough times of The Great Depression and World War ll, Sam worked hard, and invested his money wisely.
Mark thanked Sam profusely, and then deposited the check in the bank.
Sam Sloan named honorary fire chief. Photo: nbcnews.com
"The bank teller took one look at it and went immediately to get the manager," said Mark. "He came out and said he'd never seen a check that big in all his years at the bank."
With deep gratitude, Sam was named honorary fire chief, and given his own fire helmet. Wishing Sam longevity, Mark said "I hope he'll be getting a whole lot of wear out of it."
Editor's Note:
To learn more washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/05/14/firehouse-donation-missouri-sam-sloan/ and kmbc.com/article/91-year-old-donates-dollar500000-to-rural-volunteer-fire-department-in-henry-county/60705277.
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