Millersville Borough Mayor Richard Moriarty recalled the first time he met Millersville University President Francine McNairy.

"I drove a fire truck up your driveway," he said Tuesday evening.

The recollection of that incident in 1997, which Moriarty referred to as "the infamous fire scare at the provost residence," drew a heartfelt laugh from McNairy.

"You were there to rescue me and my dog," she said of the incident, which resulted from a furnace problem.

McNairy, who has served as the university's president since 2003, officially retires Friday.

She was honored during an emotional council meeting Tuesday.

"Numbers tell some of Francine McNairy's life," Moriarty said.

He defined her long career — including her time at Millersville University before she became president — into a series of numbers, such as 50, 17,000, 2003, 167 million and 1.

"The numbers come to life and tell a story," Moriarty said. "She was one of 50 African-American students out of 17,000 at the University of Pittsburgh."

He said 2003 represents the year McNairy became Millersville University's president, and the first African-American to lead a state university in Pennsylvania.

"She has overseen a $167 million budget in recent years," Moriarty added.

But the number was 1 was the most important.

"Regardless of the significance of all those numbers, the number one represents her most important number. She always placed her students first," Moriarty said.

As token of appreciation for her commitment to the university and the borough, council President Michael Kirkham presented McNairy with a key to the borough.

"We are sorry to see you leave and we hope it's not too far away," Kirkham said.

Kirkham also presented McNairy with another gift that drew laughter — a Pittsburgh Steelers football jersey with the number 13. McNairy was Millersville University's 13th president.

"This (jersey) gives me the ability to replace (Ben) Roethlisberger as the quarterback," she joked.

Millersville Fire Station Chief Keith Eshleman also presented McNairy with a special gift.

"Three days ago, 16 years ago, is when we met one Sunday morning with a fire truck outside your house," Eshleman said.

Eshleman presented McNairy with a plaque making her an honorary member of the fire department.

"I have to agree with the comments made earlier," Eshleman said. "You have been a true friend to a lot of people in Millersville."

In response, McNairy said she was honored and humbled.

"Millersville, you opened your heart and your arms to me when I came here," she said, noting that the borough and the university both benefit from the close relationship they share.

"We are stronger together," she said. "We are not strong when we're apart."