DATE: Tuesday, October 21, 1997             TAG: 9710210273

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NAOMI AOKI, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   57 lines

TIMING FEELS RIGHT FOR RETIRING, SAYS PORTSMOUTH'S FIRE CHIEF

Fire Chief Donald Newberry Jr. will retire at the end of the year after 30 years with the city department and five years as chief.

``I've been thinking about it for quite a while,'' said Newberry, 53. ``I've got 30 years in, and the timing just felt right, like that's what I'm ready to do.''

Newberry said he has no immediate plans except to relax and get some work done around the house.

The city hopes to have a new chief by the first of the year, said Deputy City Manager C.W. ``Luke'' McCoy. The city plans a statewide search and will consider candidates from within the department, McCoy said.

Newberry became the third fire chief in South Hampton Roads to announce his retirement since August. Virginia Beach Chief Harry E. Diezel and Chesapeake Chief Michael L. Bolac also are stepping down.

Under Newberry's leadership, the department took over emergency medical services from a private contractor, opened a new firehouse, replaced old equipment and became a leader in responding to hazardous waste emergencies, McCoy said.

``He really took our fire department into the 21st century,'' McCoy said. ``He will certainly be missed. He's a fireman's fireman.''

Last year, its first, the city emergency medical service responded to more than 10,000 emergency calls at a savings of about $250,000, according to the city. City EMS employees responded to 93 percent of the calls within eight minutes, which exceeds national standards.

The department was named the lead South Hampton Roads agency for responding to hazardous waste emergencies by the state emergency services department, McCoy said. Newberry also helped open a new $1 million firehouse in Churchland last year. The station is one of nine in the city.

Those accomplishments, Newberry said, are among his proudest as chief.

But what he will miss most, he said, are his partners in firefighting.

``It's always been like a family to me,'' he said. ``Everybody watches out for one another.

``It's been a good career. I can't think of anything in my career I would have changed.''

Newberry replaced B. Odell Benton, who was chief for 40 years, in July 1992 after working his way through the ranks.

He began his career as a firefighter in 1967, was promoted to lieutenant in 1972, captain in 1976, battalion chief in 1982 and deputy fire chief in 1985.

A 1964 graduate of Wilson High School, Newberry graduated magna cum laude from Hampton University with a bachelor's degree in fire administration. He also has studied at Tidewater Community College, the National Fire Academy and Virginia Tech.

Newberry, who got married the same month he became a firefighter in 1967, and his wife plan to stay in Portsmouth. His son, Donald Newberry III, 28, is a lieutenant with the city fire department. His daughter, Laura Lee Boes, 26, is a teacher in Florida. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Donald Newberry Jr.

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