Posthumous Honor Sought for Veteran PA Firefighter

Oakmont resident Brittany Premick wants her grandfather to be immortalized by the borough he long served.

“Anyone (who) knew my grandfather knew he was hardworking and dedicated for anything he put his mind to,” Premick said. “If you ask my family, they would say he was a hard-headed, stubborn person who never took no for an answer. If you would ask my family about me, they would probably say the same thing.”

Her grandfather was Dale E. Peoples, a longtime volunteer firefighter, retired manager at Duquesne Light Co., former Oakmont council member and mayor.

He served for 25 years on council and was mayor from 1999 to 2005.

Peoples was a volunteer firefighter for 52 years and an Oakmont Lions Club member for 45 years. He died from cancer on Nov. 6, 2008. He was 76.

“My grandfather was the type of person who was willing to help everyone or anything,” Premick said. “He was dedicated to his community and also to his family.”

She recalled Peoples teaching her about local government and participating in parades.

“I can remember taking trips to the borough building if he would be babysitting, and he always made it fun for me no matter what,” Premick said.

The family requested council rename a street after him, or possibly dedicate Oakmont’s fire hall in recognition of his decades of volunteering.

“It would be so much to my family seeing my father get the recognition he deserves,” said Erin Premick, Brittany’s mother. “He was a servant to his community, and why should he not get the recognition for the dedication he put into his community? I am very proud of my daughter and honored she had the courage to bring this to council and release the statement she did.”

Council President William Benusa, who served with Peoples when he was mayor and councilman, said the borough is considering the request. He plans to speak with recently hired borough manager Scot Fodi about it.

“When that conversation comes to council, it’s very difficult when there’s no policy in place (for street dedications),” Benusa said. “There’s not set standard so you can’t just do it for somebody. (Peoples) was a straight-up guy. He told you the way it was. He was responsible and there for every meeting.”

There is a street named after the late Adeline Brown, who served as borough manager from 1966 through 2005 and a number of years as Oakmont’s secretary prior to that.

Benusa said it’s the small strip off Allegheny Avenue in front of Hoffstot’s Cafe Monaco and Chelsea Grille.

Ray Rogers, former financial secretary/treasurer for the fire department and in his 60th year of service, believes Peoples deserves some type of honor in Oakmont.

“I don’t see why not,” Rogers said. “He was a good guy. He liked to get things done. He treated everything fair. If he didn’t think you had a good idea, he would still listen. His dad was fire chief. We have a good bunch of guys that are together. It’s one of those family things with the fire company.”

Rogers said he could not recall the family’s request for the fire hall dedication.

It was unclear when council may take action on Premick’s request.

She pledged to keep seeking honor for her grandfather so future residents and relatives will remember him.

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