BOMBAY - Approximately 25 relatives of late firefighter Thomas Leduc turned out at the Bombay fire station this week the department’s new tanker truck was dedicated in his honor.

Mr. Leduc was a Bombay volunteer firefighter from when he turned 18 in 1951 until his death following a sudden illness at age 78 in 2011.

A new 2012 International tanker was on display with an emblem with Mr. Leduc’s name and his dates of service. His family was presented with a plaque and another was mounted inside of the truck.

Bombay Fire Chief Mike Dufrane was recalled Mr. Leduc’s dedication to fire service.

“He never missed a fire call. At 78 years old, he’d be out of bed and going to calls. Whether it was in the middle of the night or 30 below, he always got up,” he said, adding that in his latter years Mr. Leduc was often the second or third responder on-scene to handle EMS calls.

“This was his life. He really enjoyed doing this,” Mr. Leduc’s wife, Gail, said.

She said she could recall the 1998 ice storm, when at age 65 her husband was away doing his job to help combat the disaster.

“I sat at home alone while he was here helping people,” she said chuckling.

Mr. Leduc’s brother, Larry, said they both joined the fire service around the same time and started a family tradition. Several of the family on-hand for the dedication said they had worked years in fire service as well. Some may recognize the voice of Tony Leduc from the Franklin County 911 dispatch.

“I can’t think of a better name to have on the side of that truck,” Mr. Dufrane said.

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