John McGill

SLIPPERY ROCK —Nothing deterred John McGill from his love of helping the fire department.

He was a board member at Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company up until his death Friday.

But the hurdles he faced were greater than most: McGill, 54, of Liberty Township, Mercer County had been a quadriplegic since an accident at age 24.

On Aug. 1, 1986, McGill was riding in a fire truck headed to a vehicle fire on Interstate 79. The truck slid out of control on the wet road and tipped over.

McGill's wife, Sue McGill, said her husband's injuries prevented him from fighting active fires. But he'd been a member of the department since his teens and wasn't about to give it up.

“Those guys, they get it in their blood, and it's in their blood forever,” she said.

McGill, at different points, worked the radio at the fire hall or used a specially equipped van to deliver coffee to crews at fires.

Sue McGill said that although her husband was a quadriplegic, he had good use of his hands and could drive the van himself.

In more recent years John McGill served on the board, leading non-emergency activities, such as fund raisers.

Sue McGill said the “Van 33,” named for the department's call numbers, allowed her husband to be independent until just a few years ago.

In addition to working with the fire department, he also enjoyed vacationing at the Outer Banks and Hilton Head beaches, attending local fairs, staying current with news stories and rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We just had a normal life,” Sue McGill said. “It was just 'our' normal.”

The couple was nine days short of a first anniversary when the accident happened in 1986.

Sue McGill said it was just in the past few years that her husband's condition caused him to become weaker. Ultimately he succumbed to complications relating back to the injury, she said.

The fire department will mark John McGill's “Last Ride” with a special service on Wednesday. The family requests, however, that the service be small, and only mutual aid fire companies attend.

“He was truly dedicated to this community,” said Ken Taggart, chief at Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.

He noted that McGill had a wonderful sense of humor but was also good at keeping people focused on the task at hand.

McGill's family requests memorial contributions be made to the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad (New Building Fund), P.O. Box 117, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.