“The work you have done allowed me to look good,” he said to the dozens of firefighters and others at the event at the fire station on Shoultes Road.

Corn was with the Marysville Fire Department for 42 years, 29 as chief. He is retiring to spend more time with his family, so the first thing he did was introduce them.

Corn started working for the MFD at age 19 when he saw a sign that said, “Volunteer Firefighters Wanted.” Since then he has worked 50,330 days for the department.

Corn said he was reminiscing at lunchtime and looking at pictures from years ago. He said many in those photos were at the party.

“You folks have really grown old,” he joked.

Battalion Chief Scott Goodale remarked that Corn was a strong leader, but also a team player.

“When he says ‘no’ it’s a done deal,” Goodale said. “But he also allows things to happen and trusts the people below him.”

Mayor Jon Nehring said Corn’s ability to listen and collaborate made him an effective leader.

“You will be greatly missed,” he said.

Nehring said Corn is all about the Marysville community.

“He was just one of the guys at staff meetings,” Nehring said. “He would chip in thoughts about other parts of the community,” not just fire service.

The mayor praised all of the first responders involved in the shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School last fall, adding that reflects on Corn’s leadership.

“It was one of the most difficult events our community will ever face,” he said. “This department performed incredibly. I will forever cherish that.”

The mayor plays golf with Corn, who has a dry sense of humor, he said. Corn poked fun of Nehring’s putting the previous day at an event, so the mayor decided to get back at him with a dig at his party.

Nehring said he was impressed with how hard Corn had worked to improve his game, and that he had gotten better.

“But there was a lot of room for improvement,” Nehring said with a laugh.