“Don’t Play With Matches”
Words and music by Hank Fridell
with Mrs. Haug’s 4th Grade Class
©2023 Hank Fridell
I studied to be a teacher, but I found happiness
With the firefighting end of forestry, it was the best.
Joined the Forest Service and the Custer VFD
I liked being outdoors, it was for me
Rose to Supervisor, Fought fires throughout the west
I trained many how to be safe and fight fires with the best
With my favorite little red book, and hand tools I would train
But I liked the girl fire fighters best, they don’t complain.
Chorus
I been a fire fighter, a family man,
Supervisor, ice fisherman
I believe in Jesus
Don’t play with matches
I like chocolate cake and candies
I like being with my family
I like the Custer Wildcats
Don’t play with matches
I was born in Sundance I was one of four
We moved to Custer, I liked the outdoors
I’d hop on my bicycle and ride on into town
I’d drag my lawnmower behind me, I worked around
In school I liked recess and math, I graduated a Wildcat
Played football and basketball, wrestled and track
My dad was my hero he was only five foot two
We were just the same, he was a fireman, too
Chorus
I like the outdoors, under the stars I like to camp,
In ice fishing I’ve got a perfect cast, just like the champs
I like hunting deer, elk and bear, moose and antelope
And I even got a once in a lifetime tag and got me a billy goat,
But my best accomplishment was marrying, my best friend Pam,
Then came Amanda, Travis, and Andy, I’m a lucky man
Now we have grandkids too, they are surely fun
And even though I’m retired, I’m seventy-one years young.
Chorus
Don’t Play with Matches!
Gary Lipp was born in Sundance, Wyoming. Gary’s mom was a local Custer girl, and because of that, our community was blessed to have the Lipp family join their residents. Gary, his brother, and two sisters enjoyed the beauty of Custer as they grew up playing in the outdoors, riding bikes, and mowing lawns. Gary played football, basketball, ran track, and wrestled. All for his favorite team: the Custer Wildcats.
Gary’s love for the outdoors and his hero, his dad, led him to his lifelong work of firefighting. The first fire he worked on was in 1969 on a fire south of Pringle. Gary spent many years with the Forest Service where he eventually became an admired supervisor to many young firefighters. At the age of 57, on his birthday, Mr. Lipp had to retire. July 25th remains “Gary Lipp” Day. A day to look back at the contributions Gary has made to our community and the contributions he made in the lives of the many young firefighters who worked for him. In addition to working for the Forest Service, Gary volunteered many hours with the Custer VFD.
A hunter and fisherman, Gary enjoys spending time outdoors. Gary has hunted: bear, elk, moose, deer, pheasant, antelope, and even a mountain goat. While he enjoys hunting, he also likes watching the little creatures of the forest: anything except the skunks. If the first lesson we learned from Mr. Lipp was, find what you love and work hard at it, the second would be spend time out in nature.
Gary’s next lessons are love, joy, and humor make lasting memories. Gary’s infectious love for life, sweet treats, and Jesus brings joy to anyone that meets him. Gary sees beauty every day, starting with the sunrise of the Black Hills. His humor shines as he talks of his love for chocolate cake, his perfect ice-fishing cast, and saving his wife’s flowers from the neighborhood skunk. We can look up to Gary for the wonderful contributions he made to our town as a firefighter, a volunteer, and an elected official, but his self-proclaimed best accomplishment was marrying his best friend, Pam and welcoming their three children into the world: Travis, Amanda, and Andy. Being a husband and a father is an important role that Gary is proud of.
Gary’s last lesson is short and sweet. “Don’t play with matches”. He inspires us to keep others safe with his wise words. Gary once thought he would be a classroom teacher. He soon realized that the fire world was where he longed to be. Like a classroom teacher, Gary has been a role model, a source of knowledge, and a protector to so many “students” over the years. As we got to learn about Gary, we realized how much he loved his job, how seriously he took his role, and how thankful we are for his dedication that kept our community safe.
Thank you, Mr. Lipp.
– Don’t Play with Matches