NFD Deputy Chief Chris Gellinger Retires After 37 Years of Service

Chris Gellinger remembers as a teenager when his dad asked him what he was going to do after graduation from Hamilton Heights High School in 1980.

‘He asked me what I thought about taking a firefighter job that became available.”

Gellinger said, “After some hesitation, I thought, ‘I’ll give it a try.’ It didn’t take long to realize that I had lucked into the best profession a person could have. Thanks Dad.”

So he began his lifelong career, fighting fires with Cicero Fire Department, where he served for six years.

Fast forward 43 years from that first day on the job, Gellinger on Friday afternoon was guest of honor at NFD Station No. 71 on Ninth Street in downtown Noblesville, where fellow fire department staff, friends, family and the community gathered in Gellinger’s honor celebrating his 37 years of service to NFD and the citizens of Noblesville.

The ceremony was filled with well wishes, handshakes and memorable stories. An open house followed with cake and unsweetened ice tea (one of Gellinger’s favorites).

During his 37 years at NFD, Gellinger traveled up the ranks serving as a lieutenant for four years, then battalion chief for 23 years, and finishing his career as deputy fire chief for the past six years.

Gellinger — known for having “one of the most famous mustaches in all of Noblesville” — on Friday afternoon sat listening, with a big, familiar grin on his face, as his current and former fire chiefs and fellow staff shared kind words and memories about the devoted NFD deputy chief.

“I’m the gentleman who hired Chris,” said retired NFD Chief Jeff Reveal (1977-93), who came up to the podium from the crowd.

“Did I hire you over the phone?” Reveal asked, to which Gellinger replied, “yes.”

Reveal said, “I thought that. Ain’t too many people get hired over the phone now.” He got another smile out of Gellinger and some laughter from the crowd.

Gellinger joined NFD on Jan. 16, 1986  (when NFD had two fire stations and four fire trucks to serve about 13,000 residents) after being hired by Reveal, who had talked to several CFD employees, for references, and who all told Reveal that Gellinger “was awful quiet.” Reveal said, “Sure enough, he was.”

Reveal said, “He never caused me any trouble, always did his job … He did a wonderful job.” (Gellinger also worked with Jeff Reveal’s brother, Rodney Reveal, a retired Noblesville firefighter of 30 years and who retired 20 years ago and who came up and said a few words at the ceremony)

The ceremony began with introductions by NFD Division Chief Trevor Hash. Then NFD Pastor Fritz Good offered a prayer. “We thank you for Chris. We thank you for his willingness to serve, his heart to be faithful for so many years, to be in this community in a way that has been a blessing. Our heart’s desire is that he will continue on and be faithful in every way. And we just want to remember those who serve, and that they are a special blessing to our community.”

NFD Chief Matt Mitchell said, “It’s always a great day when we have the opportunity to give honor when honor is due. Thirty-seven years of faithful service is definitely worthy of honor, and Chris Gellinger will be sorely missed, especially by me,” Mitchell said.

He joked about Gellinger being “the most elevated in age” of all of the staff, a position that Mitchell would hold upon Gellinger’s retirement.

Mitchell relayed four character traits about Gellinger.

First, his skill as a firefighter. “Chris is as good as we’ve ever had,” said Mitchell, who also drew attention to Gellinger’s “epic” mustache, which Gellinger has grown since high school. Well, except for a time when Gellinger had shaved the mustache off for a day (Battalion Chief Adam Biddle later shared that mustache story.)

The second trait Mitchell drew attention to was Gellinger’s humility. The deputy chief served as a chief officer (battalion chief, then deputy chief) for 29 of his 37 years. Mitchell described Gellinger as “rock solid and firm in the center and soft on the edges.”

Thirdly, Gellinger always exhibited “his legendary calm demeanor.” Mitchell said, “He could manage chaotic scenes like nobody I’ve ever seen … you just can’t teach that skill.”

Finally, dependability and reliability. “Chris is just a solid performer,” Mitchell said. “I could always heavily rely on him to get things done that needed to be accomplished. I never had to worry about projects when Chris was involved, because I knew they would be managed well.”

After more fun poked at Gellinger, Mitchell wrapped up his speech. “Thank you Chris, for selflessly serving our community with integrity, professionalism and compassion for 37 years. NFD is better because of you … I am honored to have served with you and beside you.”

Mitchell went on to read aloud letters of congratulations to Gellinger.

Retired NFD Assistant Chief Rick Taylor wrote about Gellinger: “He has been a great asset to this department through the years of his service …. A great firefighter, officer and chief. Enjoy your retirement. You’ve earned it.” Taylor worked for NFD for 33 years before retiring in 2010.

Retired NFD Chief Ken Gilliam (1993-1995 and 2004-2015) wrote: “Always the team player, your calm and professional approach to your work was admired by all. I never saw you lose your composure or conduct yourself in any way other than with utmost professionalism. One of the three originally appointed battalion chiefs, your tenure was the longest. As others came and went, you steadfastly deserved those crossed bugles (traditional symbol worn by a battalion chief) every day. So it was only fitting that you finished your career as the deputy chief. As you say goodbye to your life’s work, I hope you feel a sense of reward for all of your sacrifice you and your family endured. The life of a firefighter is not an easy one, but you lived it gracefully and left the NFD better than you found it, which in the end is the best any of us can hope to accomplish….”

NFD Battalion Chief Adam Biddle, was next to speak. “You’re where all of us hope to be someday,” said Biddle, who was  “5 years old” when Gellinger started his firefighter career after high school at Cicero Fire Department, he calculated. Biddle got choked up as he began to sum up Gellinger’s 37-year career:  “A man who rose through the ranks and mentored almost every firefighter and officer in this room …”  He witnessed a “command presence” from Gellinger when Biddle was a new firefighter, as a new lieutenant and a captain, and was “honored” to have worked with Gellinger and would go with him to a fire any day.

A fire call sounded in the middle of Biddle’s speech, and crew members departed to answer the call.

Gellinger is going to miss hearing those calls.

But he is ready to retire. The Noblesville native will turn 61 on March 23.

“It’s just time,” he said. “It’s time to start another part of my life.”

Gellinger plans to spend more time with family, and he and his wife, Karen, “hope to travel,” he said. Any destinations on his bucket list? “Go out West.”

They have four grown kids, Andrea Gellinger, Eric Gellinger, Blake Gellinger, and Madison Aitken, who all graduated from Noblesville High School, and two grandkids. “I don’t know if being a battalion chief made me a better dad or having four kids made me a better battalion chief,” he said during his speech.

He told guests at his open house that he was “honored and humbled” by the “kindness you’ve all shown me. I think of you not only as a department but as a family as well.”

He said it’s been a pleasure working with fellow NFD employees. He especially thanked Jeff Reveal: “Thank you for taking a chance on me 37 years ago.”

When he started at NFD, there were two stations and just more than 20 NDF staff members. Today, there are seven stations and more than 150 staff.

He said earlier in a department Facebook post: “I knew after my first shift day at NFD that this was the place where I wanted to spend my career. It has always been an honor to put on the uniform and get to come to work every day.”

Gellinger said that he learned how to do things “the right way” from many of these retirees. He also thanked his family, who “always understood” when he missed milestones and events because he was on duty. He especially thanked his wife, Karen. “You can’t have a long career in this profession without having a strong supporting partner running things at home when I’m gone.”

Gellinger was presented with an American flag that flew on the station’s flagpole and a shadow box to store the flag. He was also presented gifts, including a personalized whiskey barrel head engraved with his name, NFD and number of years served, made by Cicero Barrel Co. Gellinger also took home his white deputy chief helmet displayed on the table next to the cake.

Gellinger is a member of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy and served as a member of NFD’s Tactical Rescue Team, Hazmat Team, and the Truck Committee. He was the 2012 recipient of the Noblesville Fire Department Leadership Award.

What was he most happy about on this ceremonious day? “Having all of my family here. I even have family here from out of state. It makes it pretty special,” Gellinger said.

His advice for new firefighters: “always have each other’s back on and off the job; you don’t know when you’re gonna need them. And don’t blink, it flies by quickly. Thank you everybody.”

Following Gellinger’s speech, presentation of gifts and flag, it was time for the tradition of firefighters and ceremony guests lining up around the inside of the fire station for the honoree to go down the line shaking hands. Then everyone turned their attention to the final radio call that was broadcast throughout all fire departments in Hamilton County, celebrating Gellinger for his years of service.

“It’s sad,” Gellinger said. “I’m happy to be retired and happy to spend more time with my family. But I’m sad to be leaving this family.”

-Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.