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His retirement became effective Aug. 1, which is something Brock called “bittersweet” after 33 years. Friends, family and coworkers came to Lenoir City Hall to celebrate Brock’s career on his final day.

“It’s been a great, great journey,” Brock said. “A lot of progress has been made in the fire service, and, of course, you know now we’re Class 2 (Insurance Service Office rating). When I started out back then we were a Class 6. There’s been a lot of improvements made to advance the department and it’s come a long way.

Brock started his career in the fire department at 29 years old after being laid off from Maremont in Loudon, which has now closed.

“I needed a job,” Brock said with a laugh. “I needed a job back then, I was laid off and never envisioned me doing this. It came open and I’m glad I did.”

In 1985, Brock became one of the original six hired when the department transitioned from volunteers to full-time firefighters.

“It was a volunteer fire department up until Oct. 1, 1985, and that’s when they hired six firefighters and I was one of them. I’m the last one to leave,” Brock said.

He eventually worked his way up to deputy chief in 1996.

“He’s served in so many different capacities, from firefighter working 24-hour shifts to becoming the current deputy chief and managing the fire department, running the fire department in Chief (Richard) Martin’s absence and then also as our fire inspector,” Don White, Lenoir City police chief, said. “So he’s making our buildings and residences safe under new construction, but he’s also getting out there and doing that, the hard line work when we have a structure fire, or we just have a major car crash, he’s on scene.

He is a hands-on chief and he has never wavered in my 25 years of knowing him — he’s never wavered, even just as recent as the huge fire at Elm Hill.

“He’s right in the middle of it getting the job done, and he’s just been consistent throughout his career with just being a 110-percenter every day,” White added.

Fire Chief Richard Martin presented Brock a firefighter helmet commemorating his retirement. Loudon Fire Chief Mike Brubaker offered a gift card. LCFD Capt. Eddie Browder presented some gifts — a $1 bill as well as the emblem off a retired fire engine Brock spent a large part of his early years in as a firefighter.

“He always laughs about, ‘How much that cost you?’” Browder said of the $1. “So that was just something to laugh about, but the Bible was something he could use as a preacher and then the emblem was off of a fire engine he rode for years.”