A prominent Marion County resident recently made a special donation to Marion County Fire Rescue.
Donald Dizney, owner of Double Diamond Farm in Ocala, gifted an antique fire engine to the county’s fire department. He purchased the 1957 Model B-85 Mack pumper known as “General Ike” in 2006 and spent countless hours and a great deal of money to restore it.
The pumper, which was retired in 1998, originally was purchased by the fire department in Gettysburg, Pa. In case of emergency, General Ike stood by at the Eisenhower farm each time the president’s helicopter took off or landed.
Dizney’s son-in-law, Roger Brand, who serves as vice president and general manager of Double Diamond Farm, presented the engine to the Marion County Board of County Commission this past Tuesday. Marion County Fire Rescue will use the historic apparatus for educational and promotional purposes.
