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Lieutenant doubles as volunteer fireman

Friday, May 08, 2020

MCALESTER, Okla. – Fire hoses and handcuffs. The tools of two very distinct and respected professions. And occasionally those jobs intersect.  

“When I was 17 years old, I had a guy come to me and ask if I wanted to be a junior fireman,” Lieutenant Earl Beshear said. 

Lieutenant Earl Beshear has been a loyal ODOC employee almost as long. When he’s not working at Jackie Brannon Correctional Center, Earl is a volunteer fireman.  

When his number is called, he races to the aid of his neighbor. 

“There have been time I’m walking to the car and my pager is going off,” Beshear said. “If it’s going off, I’m going to the scene. It doesn’t matter where.” 

Earl Beshear has been serving Longtown and surrounding communities for two decades. 

“Grassfires, house fires, we’ve pulled people out of cars,” Lt. Beshear said. “I sometimes wonder why I’m there. But I’m helping those people out.” 

Not once has he accepted any compensation, except for the occasional “thank you.” 

When you are a public servant like Earl, “thank you” is all you really need. 

“It’s helping the community,” Beshear said. “You never know when your place might be the next place fixin’ to be on fire.” 



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