Page 12 - Newsletter Spring 2021

Cowperthwaite has been diligent in keeping On April 12, Cowperthwaite hosted his last
abreast of the latest firefighting techniques. He has
planned training sessions and spent countless hours,
maintaining the equipment, and doing a lot of
paperwork with his crew.
A Littleton resident from the start, Cowperthwaite
went on to graduate from Houlton High School in
1966. After high school he signed on with the Maine
Army National Guard and after his training returned
to join his Dad, Arnold, and his older brother, David
on the family farm. Cowperthwaite married Sheila
Campbell and they are parents of two daughters. He
continued being a part of Houlton’s B Battery for 28
years, retiring with the rank of First Sargent.
Cowperthwaite expressed
how his fellow firefighters had
become his family too, and he
will miss them as he transitions
into retirement at the end of the
year.
In ‘99, after 33 years on the farm, he left to embark
on a new career with the United States Department
of Agriculture. He was a lab technician for the New
England plant, soil, and water lab in Presque Isle.
While maintaining this full-time job, Cowperthwaite
was also involved as an out of state Wildland
Firefighter, but still handling the responsibilities
of chief of the fire department. During his career
he served as President of the Aroostook County
Fire Chiefs Association and was the Town of
Littleton’s Emergency Management Director. In his
leadership role, Cowperthwaite secured two mobile
generators (one to be used at the Southern Aroostook
Agricultural Museum for a possible warming center
and the other at the Littleton Pit Stop to provide for
fuel and food items during a natural disaster.)
PAGE 12
recognition firemen’s supper. As he addressed the
group, he shared his love for his community and
the people who had supported this endeavor for 40
years. He wanted the selectmen to know how their
cooperation had impacted his career and the success
of the fire department.
“Without that comradery, it may have been much
different.” said Cowperthwaite.
Just one of the selectmen survives from that core
group of 1981 and that is Raymond Wotton, who
now serves as an honorary member of the department.
Cowperthwaite expressed how his fellow firefighters
had become his family too, and he will miss them as
he transitions into retirement at the end of the year.
He noted the challenges that may come in the years
ahead and encouraged those in attendance to watch
out for each other, be there for each other and
continue the legacy of the organization.
As the evening ended Cowperthwaite said, “As always,
I have found satisfaction in serving the good people of
the town of Littleton.”
His dedication, integrity and professionalism will
be missed by his hometown community. He has
been a great community representative of service.
Not unexpected, as school history noted him as the
recipient of his 8th grade “Good Citizenship Award”.
The community of Littleton’s parting words to
Cowperthwaite: “Thank you for a job well done. We
have appreciated your time, your dedication, and
the outstanding way you have represented us and
protected the residents of our town. We wish you
well.”
Sincerely,
The ‘good people’ of Littleton.
www.houltonalumni.com