Dave Thorne retired from the Clarks Summit Department of Public Works after 33 years of service. Pictured seated with some of his co-workers is Thorne, right, and his wife, Kathy.
Submitted photo
CLARKS SUMMIT – Dave Thorne has had many duties working for the Clarks Summit Borough Department of Public Works.
He recently retired as the DPW foreman after 33 years working for the borough.
He began working with the borough part time in 1985. He began full time on Jan. 1, 1989
“When I first started, it was part time. I was slinging garbage into the back of trucks and weed whacking.,” he said.
He has had many jobs with the borough over the years. He has worked on stormwater repairs and catch basins. He worked in parks and cut brush that has blocked signs. He was able to learn different types of equipment.
At one time, the borough had their own paver, so he paved roads. He also sealed cracks.
“I was a jack of all trades. You are on call all the time. When you get older, you dread the 4 a.m. phone calls to plow the roads. Every snowstorm is a challenge and every storm is different. You have to plow, salt and know when to salt again. Each storm has its own challenges.”
He graduated from Abington Heights High School in 1984. He continued his education at Keystone College and West Chester University.
He joined the Clarks Summit Fire Department when he was 16. He has been with the fire company 27 years as an EMT instructor, chief of EMS, 2nd assistant chief, captain, lieutenant and driver.
“The more training I got, I moved up the ladder. I have been involved in firefighting and rescue work,” he said.
Thorne works part time doing inspections for construction sites for an engineering company. He does this in the summer and during construction season.
He is an Eagle Scout and is a merit badge counselor.
He enjoys hunting, fishing and golf.
He and his wife Kathy have three sons and a daughter. They also have one granddaughter.
He and his wife plan to spend their winters in Florida now that he is retired. They enjoy visiting friends and trying new restaurants.
“I enjoyed working with the crew. The camaraderie was the best around,” he said.
“Dave would jump right in and do it. He would not have the other DPW workers do something that he did not do himself. People would call the borough to have a pothole fixed and he would do it. They called about the work he did,” said Gerri Carey, Clarks Summit borough president.
