August 2010

Dog days of summer are almost over. It is hard to remember such a hot summer.

MEMBER REPORT:

Retired Captain E. E. Harden (Fatz) passed away of August 14, 2010. Fatz was one of the original Union 1834 members. Fatz was also one of the charter members of JAXRFA.

Retired Engineer C.W. Owens passed away of August 23, 2010. C.W. retired after 20 years and began his own pest control company. A good number of retirees attended the funeral in Keystone Heights.

Both of the widows of these men were presented a Widow’s coin by Linda Treadwell at the funeral.

Pictures from these and all funerals are posted on the website for the JAXRFA on the Last Alarm page.

Ila Lykins Harvey, widow of Stump Harvey and mother-in-law of member David Ferrell passed away of August 16, 2010.

Retired Engineer Glenn Daniels is in Baptist Hospital in serious condition. He has cardiac problems and is a diabetic with complications.

Retired Engineer Woody Fish is in serious condition with the return of his bone cancer.

Dorothy Mooneyham, widow of Fred Mooneyham and JAXRFA member Freddie Mooneyham is in St. Vincent’s Hospital after suffering a fall and numerous surgeries for repair of her wrist, a knee replacement and a hip replacement.

Bob Masculine is scheduled to have a knee replacement on September 14, 2010.

As always our thoughts and prayers are with these families at this time.

If you have noticed in the Times Union the following couples have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries this summer: Joan and Owen Richardson on July 30, 1960 and Nancy and Donald Butler on August 8, 1960. Congratulations to both couples.

SPECIAL REPORT:

The Redknights will be riding to Emmittsburg, Maryland for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. They will be leaving from the Cracker Barrel on Airport Road on Wednesday, September 9, 2010. They have 10 motorcycles and 14 people going as of this date. If interested contact Ride Captain Linda Treadwell, 210-6799.

Warren and Linda Treadwell will be retiring after 71 years combined public service. There will be a Retirement Party held at the Firefighters Hall on Stockton Street on Saturday, September 18, 2010 beginning at 6:00. A fish dinner will be served and you are invited.

A Memorial Wall has been erected on the side of the Fire Museum. This wall is in honor of those firefighters that have answered their last alarm. A dedication ceremony will be held on Friday, September 17, 2010 at 11:00a.m. Lunch will be served after the ceremony.

The annual Retired Firemen’s Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 beginning at 10:00a.m. Till 3:00p.m. at Firefighters Hall. R.S.V.P. Linda Treadwell at 210-6799. More information will be given at the monthly breakfast.

Mr. A.C. Thomas, President of Thomas and Associates has asked to speak at the breakfast concerning health insurance. Mr. Thomas specializes in the City health program and retirees on Medicare. He says he can save you a lot of money.

We want to welcome our newest members: Mike Brendle, Chuck Riddling, Steve Richards, Ernie Greene, Ronnie DeLoach and Jeff Gerbert.

There will not be a newsletter in September. The editor will be on vacation to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony in Emmittsburg, MD

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Retired Battalion Chief Bill Parks

Bill Parks was hired in the summer of 1961 and his first assignment was ladder 13. Bill likes to tell the story of Chief Kelly refusing to hire him because he was in the National

Guard. Bill also was hoping to get hired because of the age limit. If he did not get hired on the first go around he would be 31 before the next hiring. He went to his Commander and told him his problem and they discharged him in order that he could come on the fire department. In time the Commander re-enlisted Bill in order that he could keep his E-8 slot as a Senior Master Sergeant. He retired with 22 years in the Guard.


Bill made Engineer in 1968 , Lt. in 1978 and Capt. In 1979. As Captain he was assigned to Station 19. The story goes that Bill called a “fish fry” to talk to his privates and officers. During the meeting Bill made the statement that he was like God...he believed in helping those that helped themselves. Joe Smith kept minutes of the meeting and he wrote down….The Captain is not God. The Captain is like God.

When the mechanical licensing law came in to effect for heating and air conditioning his license number was M-3. He does not know who was number 1 or 2 but his oldest son, Jack was M-7 and Nancy Katheryn was M-11. Bill is a state certified contractor and can work anywhere in the state.

Bill still owns Arlington Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. His first year in business he grossed $10,000 and the next year he grossed $100,000.00 not a bad increase.

Bill and his family enjoy traveling to their condo in the Smokies. We are glad to say that after his back surgery, he is well on the mend.

	Bill and Nancy Parks in front of their home. They were married on June 19, 1953 and have been married for 57 years.
	Bill and Nancy looking at pictures of their 5 children( 4 boys and 1girl,) 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
	Bill has been a busy man... he was in the National Guard when he got called to be hired on the JFD. He was also a Lt. in the Navy Fuel Depot FD and the Chief of the Air National Guard FD. He is a licensed Heating and Air Conditioner Contractor and Retired as a Battalion Chief in 1992.

Featuring A Good Friend of the Retired Firefighter Association: Rob Walls

There is a business in town that is very supportive of firefighters. Mr. Rob Walls, Manager of the Lowe’s Home improvement Store on Cassat Ave. has been very generous when asked to support several endeavors of this Association and other Fire Department events. Mr. Walls never hesitates and is always helpful. Please consider this when you are shopping for your home improvement needs. Mr. Walls is easy to spot in the store…..he wears one of our JAXRFA pins on his vests everyday.
When purchasing items for your next home project, pick LOWE'S and support those who support us!

If you’ll notice over Mr. Walls left shoulder is the plaque that our own Ronnie Learn presented to him from the Retired Luncheon committee in 2008. Rob is proud to support us!

Some of the things that Mr. Walls has helped with over the past 3 years are:

• Door prizes for the, Annual Retirees Luncheon
• Door prizes for the the Annual Firefighter’s Widows Luncheon
• And now, landscaping for the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Wall.
  
  Mr. Walls is truly a proactive community supporter.

         Thank You!

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