Dan Gwin - making the world better

Gunner, a 12-year-old Boxer, sits by his fence in Chandler every Thursday morning waiting for his favorite person: Dan Gwin the trash truck man.

Like other dogs all over Lincoln County, Gunner looks forward to Dan’s arrival because he knows his friend will reach into the box in the floorboard of his truck and give him a treat.

It’s a weekly ritual and it’s one of the reasons Dan is considered a favorite garbage collector - and favorite person - by residents of Lincoln County.

Many people in both Davenport and Chandler have explained that he goes above and beyond the call of duty, picking up the trash with integrity and handing out dog treats to the furry friends that wait for him.

“My dog isn’t the only one that gets treats,” said Chandler resident Kim Hobill, who is one of Gunner’s humans.

“The neighborhood dogs know Dan.

“This morning, my dog got me up at 7:30 and we went and sat on the porch to wait for him.

“Of course, he gets out and walks up to my gate and tells my dog, ‘‘sorry buddy, I’m running late this morning’ and he gave him his treat.”

Dan carries a large box of dog treats with him in his truck and when he runs low, he uses his own money and buys more, simply because he knows all the neighborhood dogs look forward to it.

“Not too far from city hall there are two little dogs and they know when he’s in town, even before he gets over to their street,” said Davenport Town Treasurer Carol Ward.

“I see them when I come to work. They are just sitting there waiting for him.” Dan makes it a point to work his hardest each day and, what may surprise the people that know him is that his work stems from many years both in the military and law enforcement.

“I was in civilian law enforcement for 23 years,” said Dan Gwin. “Stillwater PD for six years and Payne County Sheriff’s office for 17. Before that I actually served in all of the branches of military. I joined the Marine Corps out of high school and I was with the Marines and Marines Reserves for well over 10 years…and then I was in the Army Guard for a little bit…and then the Air Guard for a bit…then finished out in the Navy Reserves.”

Dan said he believes in doing good his best in anything he does, regardless of the task.

“My father always told me that it doesn’t matter what job I’m doing,” said Gwin. “To have the intestinal fortitude and the integrity to do a job right, that’s what matters. You’re getting paid for that job…You need to do it to the best of your ability.”

Not only does Dan carry around his popular dog treats, he also makes it a point to develop a connection with the people he sees on his route.

“My grandkids love him,” said Chandler resident Hobill. “My grandson is so fascinated by the trash truck that, when he’s with me we’ll go and stand on the porch to wait for Dan to go by to dump the dumpsters. Then he will do the big dumpster last for the kids to see, and they ab solutely love it.” Dan also helps out the elderly and those who have difficulty remembering to put out their trash at times.

“I’m a senior and even though I don’t put my [trash can] out,” said Ward, “he always makes it a point to pick it up.” He has worked for Republic Waste Disposal and Trash Removal Services for close to six years now and sees it as something good to do until he retires.

“I’d say ninety-five percent of people are genuinely good,” said Gwin. “My corporal at the police department always said, in any situation it never hurts to be nice…If you can do something a little extra for somebody, or be a little extra nice to somebody, do it.”