Hutsell, Alan Scholarship Fund

Donor Fund Story:

Mr. Hutsell believed that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Mr. Hutsell, a lifelong native of the Cromwell area, began his career with the Sparta Township Fire Department in 1957, at the age of 22.  He was a volunteer who moved through the ranks of the department to become Secretary-Treasurer, and eventually Chief.  He was still an active volunteer fireman at the time of his death in 1996, at the age of 61. Some of the highlights of Alan’s career as a fireman were acquiring new fire trucks for the department, sharing the department with his sons, John and Joe (he also had a daughter Janie), coordinating and shooting the annual fireworks display on Lake Wawasee, and water ball contests. Because of Alan’s dedication to service, it is no surprise that his 3 children grew up to be a law enforcement officer, a teacher, and a member of the US military.

Alan believed that people should help others daily and always encouraged young people to do so. He believed that caring for others and being involved in the community was a talent that everyone needed to learn and share. He often commented, “Anyone can help anybody, even if it’s just being there to listen.” In honor of Alan’s life of service and dedication to others, his family and the Sparta Township Fire Department created this fund to support students going into a career that gives back to their community.

Family and friends of Alan established the scholarship fund at the Noble County Community Foundation in December 1997 in honor of Alan to be awarded to a West Noble High School senior pursuing advanced education in emergency services involving fire, police and/or EMS.