Earnest Dove remembers his first day as a firefighter over 36 years ago — it was the day he applied for the job. Dove has decided to retire at the end of the year and work full-time as a sheriff’s deputy.

Dove said he was 19 years old and right out of high school in 1973 when he went to the fire station to apply for a job.

“I came down to fill out an application and the chief said for me to go get a hair cut and come back,” Dove said. “I came back and went to a call of a car fire and a house fire on 319 south that day.”

Dove, a training captain at the Tifton-Tift County Fire Department, has served as a reserve deputy with the Tift County Sheriff’s Department for more than 20 years. Dove said the part he likes best about his jobs is helping people, “not just those in need, but I try to help them before something disastrous happens.”

The fire department and fire fighting have changed over the years, Dove said.

“The equipment went from a 1956 model American LaFrance convertible in the dead of winter to the trucks we have now that have enclosed cabs and they’re climate-controlled inside,” Dove said. “They’re much more comfortable to ride in.”

Dove has four children — Michelle Wiggins, Marissa Howze, James Dove and Kay Moore. None of Dove’s children are firefighters. Wiggins is the only child who has followed in her father’s footsteps and made law enforcement a career. She is a traffic officer for the City of Ashburn.

It won’t be easy, Dove said, to leave the fire department.

“I love these guys up here and they are part of my extended family because I’ve worked with them so long,” Dove said. “The sheriff has given me the opportunity to work for him a while and I like that. I’m going to give it a shot. The people at the sheriff’s department are another extended family and a bunch of absolutely wonderful people.”

Dove said his decision to retire from the fire department is a fulfillment of a promise to his late wife, Kathy Cooper Robinson Dove, who died in August. Dove said he promised his late wife that he wouldn’t work two jobs so that he could spend more time with his 10 grandchildren.

“I want to take up as much time as I can with my grandchildren and just have fun,” Dove said. “I love the words Papa Dove.”

Fire Chief Mike Flippo gave a special presentation and award honoring Dove during City Council’s Monday night meeting.

“He’s given 37 years in service to our community,” Flippo said. “He has always gone above and beyond what was asked of him and he will be missed.”