RUMFORD — A U.S. Coast Guard veteran from Rumford, who has volunteered for 12 years as the South Paris liaison for Maine Veterans’ Homes, has a new assignment.

On July 13, Gov. Paul LePage appointed John G. Kezal, 81, to the Maine Veterans’ Home Board of Trustees, which governs the state’s six veterans’ homes.

That means he gets something he hasn’t had while serving as liaison since 2000 — a vote that counts.

“I will now represent the American Legion Department of Maine and have a vote on all that takes place at the six homes,” Kezal said Wednesday afternoon in Rumford.

He said he was asked a couple of years ago if he wanted to serve as a trustee to replace someone who’d stepped down.

At the time, Kezal declined. He said he was “very happy” serving the South Paris home by working with the activity director to raise funds and helping resident veterans.

Last September, Trustee Royce Knowles of Skowhegan passed away, Kezal said. But the Legion didn’t nominate anyone to replace him.

Then, at the board’s March 28 meeting, Chairman Maj. Gen. Stephen E. Nichols told the board they should nominate Kezal for the position.

“But where this came about and where I’ve been a Legionnaire for 59 years, I felt I should accept it and try to finish up the guy’s term,” Kezal said.

Nearly four months later, Kezal received a letter on July 6 from LePage and the appointment.

“On behalf of myself and the people of Maine, thank you in advance for your contribution to our state and your willingness to be on our team to accomplish the challenging tasks ahead,” LePage wrote.

Kezal was sworn in on July 13 by Rep. Sheryl J. Briggs, D-Mexico. The appointment ends on April 20, 2014.

Whether it’s serving his country, fellow veterans, municipalities, or Oxford County youth as a baseball coach, umpire, and Boys and Girls State chairman, Kezal has always stepped to the plate.

He served three years with the Coast Guard from 1951-54 as an engine room fireman on many weather patrols in the North and South Atlantic oceans, participating in many air and sea rescues.

He worked 43 years for the Rumford paper mill as a journeyman mechanic for paper machines, retiring in November 1992.

He also played, coached and umpired baseball for 37 years and served as the Northern Oxford County Little League baseball commissioner from 1967-77. He retired in late 1995 after 29 years as a member of the Central Maine Board of Umpires.

On Aug. 5 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Kezal will be inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kezal also served American Legion Post 24 for more than 56 years, the Rumford Lodge of Elks No. 862 for more than 40 years, the Coast Guard for more than 30 years, and is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 1248.

In 2009, he was named Rumford’s Citizen of the Year for his many years of municipal service on the Finance and School committees.

“I’ve kept very busy,” Kezal said. “I don’t like to sit around. I like to help people.”

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