Hickory Fire Captain Bill Denton retires

With 30 years in the fire service, Captain Bill Denton is retiring from the Hickory Fire Department. He was hired on Nov. 11, 1996, as a firefighter and moved through the ranks. He was promoted to Firefighter II, Senior Firefighter, Apparatus Operator, and to Captain. Denton was promoted to Captain in March 2009; he is finishing out his career as Captain on Engine 7, where he has been for 7 years.

Denton is certified as a Level II Firefighter and Hazardous Materials (operations level) through the North Carolina Fire & Rescue Commission. In 1999, he was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-D) through the Office of Emergency Medical Services. Other certifications that Denton completed over the course of his career include Fire Officer I and II, NC Airport Firefighter, NC Advanced Firefighter, Inspector Level I, and Instructor Level II. Denton helped teach the Hickory Fire Department Recruit Class of 2013 and taught Firefighter I and II certification classes at St. Stephens Fire Department. Over the course of his time at Hickory Fire Department, he has had the opportunity to work under the direction of four fire chiefs, gaining insight from each leadership transition.

Prior to the fire department, Denton attended The University of Central Florida, where he received a bachelor’s degree in public administration. He was a firefighter in Florida before moving to North Carolina. He also worked for the Boy Scouts of America as the district executive of the Gemstone district and earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1985.

Denton is married to Carol and has a son, Nathan. He is a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church MS. During his retirement, he plans to spend time with his family and continue his passion for woodworking in his woodworking shop.