Richard Glover joined the West Windsor station in 1978 after moving into a house right across the street. Like Dennis Huber, he has held every position, from assistant engineer all the way up the ranks to chief. Glover has served as a senior officer — either as captain or as chief — for 23 years.
“Dennis and I have been friends for a long time,” Glover says. “Our fire fighter careers have mirrored each other’s.” Like Huber, Glover’s father, Bernard “Red” Glover, was a fire fighter, also at the West Windsor fire house, which was certainly part of the reason Glover joined.
But Glover had another reason to follow in his father’s footsteps. “Soon after we bought our house here in West Windsor it caught on fire,” Glover said. “My brother-in-law, who was a fire fighter at the time, came across the street with one of the fire trucks, and the fire was quickly put out. He suggested that I join as well, and after that experience, how could I say no?”
Glover was born in Princeton and moved to West Windsor to live with wife Joanne, a West Windsor native. She has taught in the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district for 24 years, first at Dutch Neck, then Millstone, and currently she teaches fifth grade at Village School. “We met in high school,” says Glover, “because at that time West Windsor kids went to Princeton High School, but we didn’t actually start dating again until we were in college. We ran into each other during a school break at the Rusty Scupper [now Metro Grill on Alexander Road], and that was it.”
The Glovers have three children, sons Ryan and Eric, who are both members of the West Windsor fire company; and daughter Kristen, who teaches at Wicoff Elementary School. Both sons joined as junior fire fighters, where, says Glover, they learned important life skills such as how to handle yourself and how to deal with adults, and, most of all, common sense.
“Both moved up the ranks to lieutenant. Ryan is still a lieutenant with the fire company; and Eric remains active, although he now lives in University Heights. I am very glad all three of my children live so close to us,” says Glover.
The Glovers are not the only “fire-fighter family” at the West Windsor Fire House. According to Glover there are many families who are involved, such as the Applegets, Visovskys, Rubensteins, Brzezynskis, Hurlburts, Leahys, Malecs, Starrs, Tindalls, and the Vellas, all of whom are active now.
“But we are all like an extended family,” explains Glover. “We don’t just work together. We socialize as well — barbecues, cook-outs, and birthday parties. Husbands, wives, and kids all join in and have fun.”
“Being a firefighter was so different when I first started,” Glover says. “We wore rubber boots, canvas coats, plastic helmets, and really funky gloves. Now the equipment is state-of-the-art. We have the latest technology in fire rescue, such of jaws of life and other rescue equipment. At that time, I never expected to see so many car accidents and so much blood. But things have changed. West Windsor has really changed and grown. We average over 500 calls a year now.”
As chief, Glover has been at the fire house every day, managing the house and the career staff, working with Director James Yates of the township, as well as managing all of the equipment. The fire vehicles are township-owned, with the exception of the chief and deputy chief cars, but the fire house itself is owned by the fire fighters.
“It is a privately owned building, not a municipal building,” says Glover, “which means we can allow alcohol to be served at functions. We rent out the space for birthday parties, banquets, awards celebrations, and more. It helps our funding, but it is more of a community service.”
The West Windsor fire company is very involved in the community. Members drive a Santa truck, host visits from the Easter Bunny, and attend township parades and other events. But because both Mercer County Park and Mercer County Community College are in West Windsor the company attends community events at the park and the college as well.
The volunteers “are a great bunch of people,” Glover says. Ninety-five percent are college-educated. Many work in Philadelphia or New York, or own their own businesses. But they all have the calling to be a fire fighter. Most live in West Windsor, or work here full-time. Their employers sign releases so that they can respond to calls during the day. “But we still have a need for more volunteers, especially during the day shift, when we back up the career fire fighters,” Glover says.
“Our volunteers are trained extremely well. As a former educator, I wanted to make sure of that, but also I wanted to make sure the fire fighters got hands-on experience because book training is not enough. Getting first-hand experience helps build confidence and increases interest. That’s what a good manager does — makes sure his or her people receive training, and then let them get their feet wet. They get so much better handling calls, handling emergencies, and then they feel they can move up the chain because they are not scared to try.”
Glover’s current day job is vice president of design sales at Williams Builder. Glover started his career as a teacher, and taught fifth and sixth grades in Lawrence.
“I left education because at that time it didn’t pay enough for me to support a family. I majored in education at the University of Bridgeport and minored in design, so that is the career path I decided to follow. I had worked as a construction journeyman, in landscaping, and even obtained a real estate license. My father was involved in construction for Princeton Borough, which helped me get interested in the business,” Glover says. “Then Mr. Henry Williams needed help, and ‘Red Glover’s kid’ was recommended to him. And I’ve worked with him ever since.”
Glover says he plans to take a little time off so he can spend more time with his new granddaughter, Alison. Deputy Chief Larry Rubenstein has been elected to take over as chief, and Rich Visovsky will remain as president. Glover stresses that he has complete confidence in both of them and has left the station in good hands.
“In addition to being a fire fighter and an officer, I have been recording secretary, chairperson of several committees, a trustee, and more. I am sure I will go back soon and probably become a driver. It’s hard not to stay involved when the station is right across the street.”
