HOT PURSUIT
Fifty years ago, while serving as fire chief, John Hager took incredible pride in helping the City of Medford purchase its first ever brand-new fire vehicle—a 1972 GMC truck.
That’s why it seemed only appropriate that Hager made his final ride on the truck last week.
Hager made the journey from the Medford Funeral Home to Christ the King Church in Medford, and then from the church to Resurrection Cemetery in Medford where he was laid to rest. His casket was draped with an American flag and secured to the back of the fire truck.
He was 88.
It was the first time a casket had ever been placed on the back of the fire truck, according to Hager’s son, Rick, who now serves as fire chief. About 16 Medford firefighters took part in the fire truck procession with commanders Mike Smith and Matt Mullenbach leading the effort.
Along with getting the casket on and off the truck, the firefighters stood in formation at the cemetery for what was John Hager’s “Last Call.” The fire trucks sounded their air horns three times followed by blaring the sirens and activating the emergency lights.
“I thought it was a very good tribute to my dad. He would have been absolutely thrilled with that,” said Rick Hager. “He was pretty proud of the fact that he was chief when they purchased the truck.”
Firefighters like Rick Hager and others found the fire truck procession to be a “powerful visual.” In fact, along the route, vehicles pulled over and some pointed up to the casket on the truck.
Rick Hager credits Mullenbach with coming up with the idea to place the casket on the fire truck. Some modifications had to be made in order for the casket to be secure for the elder Hager’s final call.
The truck was taken out of service for fire calls a few years ago, but Rick Hager said they are keeping it around for funerals and parades.
John Hager served as a firefighter in Medford from 1960 to 1989 with 22 years as chief. Firefighting has become quite the tradition in the Hager family. Rick Hager joined the department in 1985. In his 37 years on the department, Rick Hager has served as chief for 26 years. And now his son, Brad Hager, has also been serving for the past 14 years. They are currently one of three father-son duos on the Medford department.
“It’s a tradition on our fire department,” Rick Hager said of the father-son combinations.
Besides serving on the fire department, John Hager was active in various other community organizations. Among them were the Medford Civic Club, American Legion, church and cemetery boards, Medford Knights of Columbus and Salvation Army. John Hager also took an active role in constructing the Medford Veterans Memorial.
“He thought it was important to be involved in the community,” Rick Hager said of his father.
Rick Hager said the main reason his father enjoyed the fire department so much was because of the camaraderie he established with his fellow firefighters.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Rick Hager said. “Once you experience it, it’s something you will never forget.”
Asked what he will remember most about his father, Rick Hager replied: “His willingness to serve the community. He believed in the importance of fire service. That was his passion.”
And it appears that passion is being carried on by at least two more generations of the Hager family.
John Hager is survived by his wife Shirley, three children: Mary Ann, Rick, and Mike and seven grandchildren.
The Medford community is a better place today because of people like John Hager, who unselfishly worked tirelessly to serve others.
May John Hager go in hot pursuit of resting in peace for all his good deeds.