IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART THE MEMBERS OF THE RICHLAND AREA FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF OUR FINAL FOUNDING MEMBER JOSEPH “JOE” JAGERS. JOE HAD BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 60 INCLUDING SERVING AS CHIEF FROM 1958 TO 1970 AND SPENDING 35 YEARS AS TREASURER. ADDITIONALLY, JOE WAS ON THE FIRST HOCKING VALLEY REGIONAL FIRE SCHOOL IN 1960 AND ASSISTED IN CREATING THE ATHENS COUNTY FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION IN 1979. JOE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW AND LEARNED FROM HIM.
