Senator and Fire Service Advocate Sarbanes Dies

Paul Sarbanes, a longtime congressional advocate for the fire service and the former co-chair of the Congressional Fire Caucus, passed away Sunday at age 87.

Sarbanes served the state of Maryland for six years as a U.S. representative before winning five terms in the Senate, where the low-key Democrat became known for his quiet pursuit of legislative goals, many of which directly impacted the fire service.

Sarbanes, the son of Greek immigrants, helped pave the way for the creation of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in 1992, and he was instrumental in securing Emmitsburg in his home state of Maryland as the site for the NFFF Memorial.

Sarbanes retied from the Senate in 2006, ending a long career which was also noteworthy for the fact that he drafted the first article of impeachment against President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal as a congressman in 1974.