Coaldale Fire Chief Richard Marek was honored Tuesday by borough council for his 20 years of service.

Mayor Richard Corkery read a resolution honoring the longtime chief."This gentleman is a real hero," Corkery said of Marek. He said Marek was a role model for children to emulate, unlike many other current high-profile people such as Tiger Woods.Corkery acknowledged that he and Marek sometimes clash, but thanked him for "volunteering endless time and energy" for the good of the borough, including fighting fires, being a driving force in building the fire station, animal rescue and fire prevention education.Marek, who joined Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in 1976 and was named chief in 1990, thanked his fellow firefighters and thanked council for the recognition."Trust me, it means a lot," he said.