Reily Township honors 3 VFD, EMS retirees

Three men who have dedicated a combined 105 years of service to Reily Township in various capacities at the volunteer fire department (VFD) and emergency medical services (EMS) team were honored during a Reily Township Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 21. 

All three retired from the Reily VFD and EMS in December 2025.

Former chief Dennis Conrad Jr., who served the Reily Township VFD for 50 years, was given a plaque and trophy for his dedication, and Station 131 was renamed the “Dennis Conrad Jr. Station” in his honor.

“I didn’t expect it, and it’s a big honor to have my name on the fire house,” Dennis Conrad said. “It’s just overwhelming for me. ... I put my 50 years in. I enjoyed what I did, and it was time for me to go.”

Dennis Conrad said he helped many firefighters in Reily Township start their careers, many of whom went on to become full-time firefighters for other departments, including a student who learned under him while attending Miami University who went on to serve the Chicago Fire Department.

“It’s like your family,” Dennis Conrad said of the Reily VFD. “All of them are like our kids. A lot of them still come back and see us.”

For Dennis Conrad, the VFD really was family. He said his wife always helped with work in the background, and eventually so did his daughter-in-law. His son, Don Conrad, ran with the VFD for 28 years.

“It’s been an experience,” Dennis Conrad said, adding the township’s VFD has earned its respect in his time there. In 2023, the Reily Township VFD and EMS was named the Ohio Fire Department of the Year. “We made good relationships through the whole county.”

Dennis Conrad is currently a member of the Reily Township Board of Trustees, which he’s served on for more than 40 years and still has four years to go in his final term. With his extra time, he has a farm and a campsite where he can spend time with his son and grandchildren.

For the members of the Reily VFD and EMS who will serve in the coming years, he said, “You need to (have) pretty thick skin, and (you’ve) got to have a lot of patience.”

“(You’ve) just got to deal with so many different personalities over the years, and you just work with them and get through it,” Dennis Conrad said. “And you can’t do it without your family backing you.”

Don Conrad also retired from the Reily VFD this year and was honored with a plaque at the trustee meeting, although he still works as a fleet mechanic in West Chester. 

The former chief’s son joined the VFD right out of high school, moving through the ranks of firefighter to lieutenant, and has been the assistant chief for roughly seven years.

“I really enjoyed it,” Don Conrad said. “I really did see a lot of things in the 28 years.”

Although he said he made many friends at the VFD and enjoyed his time there, he will now have more time to spend with his wife and children, attending family functions, birthday parties and holidays.

“I’m gonna miss the guys,” Don Conrad said. “It’s kind of a calling. (You’ve) got to love it. … There’s a lot of people that don’t want to do it, and we’re a pretty dedicated department down here, and the trustees gave us the equipment to do what we did.”

Nick Schwab was an emergency medical technician (EMT) for 27 years and has been volunteering since the Reily EMS was established in 1998.

Schwab said he needed to retire in December following an unrelated injury, although he didn’t want to give it up. He said serving as an EMT for Reily Township was “a wonderful experience.”

“I miss it every day,” Schwab said. “How many people are given the opportunity when somebody’s out there needing help that you can respond and help them?”

Schwab is also still serving as a township trustee, where he’s had a seat for more than 35 years.

Each of the three men were also presented with a certificate from the Butler County Commissioners’ office for their service. A retirement party was hosted for the three at the community center on Jan. 24, where they were commended by a representative from U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson’s office and by state Reps. Diane Mullins and Thomas Hall. Several local fire departments were also in attendance.