HOPE — Several gifts were presented to Hope Fire Chief Clarence Keller, who formally retired from the chief position at midnight, June 30, 2025: A ride in style to his retirement party, a joke gift of doughnuts, an apple tree seedling, commemorations, and a keepsake piece of art created on a board from Keller’s first fire. The announcement of a scholarship fund in his name drew surprised hums from the audience. But, in the moment, during that party, July 12, 2025, the most practical and personal gift became a box of tissues. Presented at the start of the ceremony, the eye-wiping, nose-wiping strips were well used. As most people who’ve met him will tell you, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

Clarence Keller has been a firefighter for 42 years and chief of Hope Volunteer Fire Department for 37 years. As current Camden Fire Chief (and emcee) Chris Farley and Hope Selectboard Chair Sarah Ann Smith acknowledged, Keller started when Ronald Reagan was president and John McKernan was governor; he has continued on to see four more governors. For many residents, Keller is the only chief of HVFD they’ve ever known. In his role as chief since 1988 he was instrumental at bringing the Town’s fire department “into the century” as former Camden fire chief Bob Oxton phrased it. Oxton also referenced the yearly dinners at Hope that others don’t get to do. Keller advocated for the “New Fire Station” at Hope Corner, which celebrates its 16th birthday this coming December, and advocated for new apparatus as needed, though he misses the 1969 pump truck.

1988, said Smith, was a really good year for Hope.

Until now, for mutual aid fire departments, the name “Hope Fire” has been synonymous with “Clarence Keller.” According to one Lincolnville firefighter, the thought of coming to Hope for a fire means one thing: sandwiches. Two a.m. or two p.m., it doesn’t matter. The auxiliary is there with sandwiches. Only in Hope. And Hope is Keller (and sandwiches).

The credit, the impetus that got Keller into a fire uniform and then into the chief role after former chief Wayne Berry ended 15 years at the helm (Keller thanks then-firefighter Fred Holbrook for guidance), came from one not-often-talked-about source. The television show “Emergency” piqued Keller’s interest. In fact, Keller has an autographed picture of Squad 51, signed by actor Randolph Mantooth.

Whatever “Emergency” was meant to be, it created something in Keller. Something significant enough to drive more than 100 people, including the Sheriff and Chief Deputy, to Hope Fire Station on a drizzly Saturday afternoon. To announce a scholarship in his name for graduating high school seniors of Hope, Appleton, and Lincolnville. For Camden Fire Department to gift him with, and plant, a Hope Orchard apple tree on the southwest corner of the fire station, and for local sponsors to donate sandwiches, chips, drinks, and desserts.

“It’s not every day that we gather to honor a legacy like this one,” said Hope firefighter Sarah Dudera. “Today we celebrate not just a career, but a lifetime of service….In a small town like ours where neighbors know each other’s kids by name and our first responders are our neighbors, volunteering their time. The fire department is more than just sirens and service calls. It’s the heart of our community. And, for nearly four decades that heart has beat the steady and selfless rhythm of Chief Keller. Even just donning the title, you carry the weight of this town on your shoulders. And you did it with humility, grace, and grit.”

One after the other, speakers thanked Keller for his commitment, his integrity, his empathy. Representative Bill Pluecker used words like passion, teamwork, true leadership, guardian. Speakers like Vicki Dudera also thanked Nancy Keller, wife of Clarence, for her selfless willingness to share her husband, any day, any time.

And then, Keller took the microphone and reversed course.

“Apparently, I need to break the news to you all,” said Keller. “That you’ve been brought here under false pretense. You were told that you were coming here to celebrate me. That’s not true. This event today is being held so that I can celebrate all of you.”

Keller listed a couple dozen individuals by name: everyone currently on the fire roster, the 50 year club (which he intends to be a part of in eight years), a couple who prays for him every night, current and former chiefs, Knox Regional Communications Center with Stephanie Gibbs and Bob Coombs in particular.

Frank Rankin and Lisa Burgess of Rankin’s Hardware (now Viking Lumber), allowed Keller to leave any time for any fire call, sometimes leaving the store shorthanded. Aside from family, the Rankins are the sole reason why Keller has been able to maintain his position.

To the Selectboard, the Town administrators, the townspeople of Hope, the taxpayers: “I hope that all of you feel that I have given my best at keeping the Fire Department budget one that is respectable,” said Keller.

For those firefighters who came and went, and those who came and stayed, “they all contributed,” said Keller. “They were all part. And that’s what the volunteer fire department is all about. Not everybody can give a hundred percent. But, together…”

Keller has a saying on his wall at home: We might not have it all together, but together we have it all.

HVFD motto remains: One team. One goal. And everybody goes home.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com