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1969
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1969 - "The Big Four" - Clark W. Longenecker, Floyd E. Hobbs, Homer E. Hall, and Chief Carney.
1969 - Clark W. Longenecker, Floyd E. Hobbs, "Zeke" Mathewson, Station No. 1.
1969 - Display of fire equipment.
1969 - Alarm Record - Wilfred C. Lauver and Charles W. Hancock.
1969 - Canister placement for Muscular Dystrophy - Mike Fenton and Captain Tanner with Joe Magdaleno.
Chief Carney receiving 1969 NFPA Award from Governor Docking.
January 31, 1969 - Man fell through ice in river. Jesse R. Maus in water, Haskell D. Fogle on ladder.
May 28, 1969 - Opening of Cowtown Fire Museum. L to R: James Schauner, Chief Carney, Floyd E. Hobbs, Martin, and John Coslett.
June 29, 1969 - Richard R. Ridder in early uniform - Wichita Centennial Parade.
June 29, 1969 - Horse-drawn Chief's buggy during Wichita Centennial parade. Richard R. Ridder in uniform.
June 29, 1969 - Horsedrawn hose wagon during Wichita Centennial parade.
June 29, 1969 - Wichita Centennial Parade.
c. 1970's - Arson - Cherry Hill Apartments.
Uniform shoulder patch. Center - City seal, outer - fire service Maltese Cross.
Car fire
Lt. W.E. Massey, M.A. Crumm, C.D. Stovall in front of E-11 at No. 9 Station.
Station No. 2 A-Shift
Station No. 2 A-Shift
| Deputy Chief L.D. Carney was named Fire Chief. In the following years, he would continue many of the programs initiated by his predecessor as well as being instrumental in setting new goals for his men. One of the first acts Chief Carney performed was to name a Fire Department Chaplain. During the Yingling tragedy, Reverend Greenlee of the West Side Christian Church volunteered his services to the department. Due to his outstanding service during that time of distress, Reverend Greenlee was asked to be the first chaplain. He accepted this position and served in this capacity for several years.
As the new year began, one of the Wichita Fire Department's finest joined the polar bear club and rescued a citizen out of an ice covered river in boots, bunkers and helmet.
An existing Station No. 11 was relocated from Harry and Geo. Washington Blvd. to Skinner and Geo. Washington Blvd. and opened in February.
In April, Fire Marshal Clarke Longenecker retired after 33 years of service and Chief Fire Inspector Max W. Anderson was named as his successor. Under his direction, the Fire Prevention Division had developed into one of the finest programs in the country.
May of that year marked the first "Fire Service Recognition Day" as firefighters, joined by the citizens of Wichita, paid a tribute to their fallen comrades at the Fire Memorial at McLean Blvd. Later, demonstrations of equipment and ladder evolutions were provided at Twin Lakes Shopping Center. This program was highly attended and is still celebrated each May, although the memorial has been relocated to No. 1 Station.
The opening of the Cowtown Fire Museum took place on May 28. Although a great many firefighters gave their off duty time to gather memorabilia for the museum, it is the consensus of the department that John Coslett was largely responsible for the project. When John is not involved in other activities, he spends his time as "Fire Department Historian" looking for stock for his "Fire Barn." One other credit to this man includes the design for the new uniform patch, a Maltese cross with the City emblem in the center. This replaced a patch formerly worn on the dress uniform only; that commemorated a fire prevention award won by the department in 1944.
In June, Chief Carney announced a new "Junior Fire Program" for 5th grade students which would be administered by members of the Fire Training Section of the Wichita Fire Department. A grant for $1,500 was received through the Sears-Roebuck foundation which will provide fire prevention education material for approximately 7,000 elementary aged children.
A new two-machine, Station No. 14 was opened July 1 at Woodlawn and Farmview in the northeast section of the City. During this time, fire prevention efforts included the posting of cartoon signs with fire safety slogans in front of each station, which were rotated each month. Fire Prevention Inspection and Training programs continued to increase, both in number and scope.
In October, a fire started by an arsonist destroying a new apartment complex under construction on South Hydraulic with a loss in excess of $200,000.
December of that year, an emergency childbirth, directed by firefighter John Hicks, earned him the title of "Doc" and recognition in the "City Times."
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Related to 12 - A New Beginning |
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