The McDowell Wedge was named for a man who always did what needed to be done. He didn’t walk the easy road, and he never bypassed a situation that he felt he could improve. Tom McDowell is a name that any local in the fire service would know. In his 47 year career, Tom could be credited with essentially building the Fire Department from scratch in Yacolt, WA, founding the Volcano Rescue Team, wearing a number of hats in the EMS field in Oregon and Washington, and, perhaps most importantly, taking under his wing a large number of individuals entering the fire service, and instilling in them a passion and work ethic that would extend well into their careers. Tom knew that sometimes having someone to believe in you, could change the trajectory of a life. His dedication to mentoring underprivileged youth set many on the path to become firefighters, department chiefs, decision makers in their fields, entrepreneurs, innovators, and the founder of our company.  Tom always found himself in situations where he knew he could make a difference, and he rose to the challenge every time. Tom is an incredible man, a dedicated mentor, and a dear friend. He is, in great part, the reason we are here, and we honor the long legacy that his incredible career established.