Kurt Hess, the recipient of the Millville Chamber of Commerce’s “Outstanding Citizen” community service award for June, was honored for 40 years of dedicated service to the Millville Fire Department, including 17 years as chief.
 
Hess recently has been cited by both the City Commission and Millville Kiwanis Club for providing top-notch service to the community and his willingness to cooperate and help others.
 
“Chief Hess is a legend,” said Mike Lippincott, who succeeded Hess as chief following Hess’ retirement on June 1. “His whole heart and soul is the Millville Fire Department, and he will be a tough act to follow. He has taught me so much, and he has been a good friend as well as fire chief.”
 
Hess, 61, said that one of his satisfactions has been to see the younger members grow in their jobs.  “I am also very proud of the fire prevention program in the Millville schools,” Hess said. “We visit every classroom from pre-kindergarten through grade five and every pre-school in the city. I am also proud of our department’s training program for members.”
 
Hess’ father Penny was a member of the Millville Fire Department, serving as assistant fire chief from 1969 to 1976. Hess’ son Alexander is carrying on the family tradition.
 
A 1971 graduate of Millville  Senior High School and a 1975 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Kurt has a degree in health and physical education.  He was a substitute teacher in Quinton.  “When Wheaton Village opened its craft shop, I became an apprentice to my uncle, Fred Rechsteiner, in the tin shop. From 1978 to December 2001, Hess was a career firefighter for the Bridgeton Fire Department. He joined the Millville Fire Department in 1975 as a reserve member and held a variety of positions there as well, becoming Millville’s first career fire chief in December 2001.
 
Hess is a Life and Exempt member of the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association. As a youth, he was a member of Boy Scout Troop 5 at Trinity United Methodist Church. He said that he plans to volunteer at the Millville Army Air Field Museum.