News : Honoring \'Chief\': VFD sculpture honors former Chief Dave Hite, others

Vinton firefighters gather around Dave and Marcia Hite as they dedicate the 'Chief' sculpture.

Marcia Hite tells the firefighters about how she chose the model for the sculpture.

This plaque honors Dave Hite, and recalls his words of advice.

This Kentucky bourbon bottle was the model for the Chief chainsaw sculpture by Brian Parr.

Most of the members of the Vinton Fire Department gathered at the fire station on Wednesday night to honor former Chief Dave Hite.

The new chainsaw carving, entitled Chief, has been on display outside the fire station since the end of the Iowa Firefighter's Association Convention. A plaque on the sculpture includes a quote firefighters remember Dave telling them in 1980s when he was Chief: "Drive slow and dress warm."

Dave and Marcia Hite joined the firefighters for a group photo. Marcia explained how she hired Brian Parr to create the statue to place at the fire station as a tribute to Dave and other firefighters. The statue that Parr created used a Kentucky Bourbon bottle from the widow of another firefighter as a model.