WPBFD History

ing members with twenty years service or any member on a total disability pension. Members were also eligible for emergency loans up to $300. Perhaps the many changes now taking place were too much for the chief who had led department for nearly four decades. Sadler officially retired on June 30, 1949. He had seen it all during his reign and had contributed enormously to the welfare of the citizens and their prop- erty. He could still recall every fire he had been to and knew the exact date that it occurred. One fact Sadler was proud of was that only seven fire deaths had occurred during his tenure as chief. The largest fire he remembered was the conflagration of 1922 when water supply had been such a problem. His favorite hobbies were still hunting and fishing. "Just give me a gun," said the chief, with a twinkle in his gray eyes, "or a puddle big enough to drop a hook in, and I'm contented for hours." Sadler received a monthly pension of $125. Sadler's service must have been appreciated; he had submitted his retirement nearly two years earlier, but had been encouraged to stay on by city officials. Perhaps his

ciation, Inc., was officially chartered as a non-profit cor- poration on June 24, 1949. Article II of the charter speci- fied the general nature of the corporation as "the welfare and conduct of its members, the regulation and adjust- ment of matters pertaining to and effecting its members, the promotion of efficiency in the Fire Department, the promotion of confidence, co-operation, harmony, friendly and social relations among its members, as well as the general public and public officials." The first Board of Directors for the Benevolent included: J. I. Cook President C. R. Hull Vice-President J. H. Witherspoon Treasurer B. W. Howze Secretary E. R. Powers Trustee D. C. Paterson Trustee E. G. Purdom Trustee Qualifications for membership in the Benevolent were: "Any male person who is now permanently em- ployed by and on the payroll of the West Palm Beach Fire Department, or who may hereafter become a permanent

record of never exceeding his an- nual budget had something to do with his popularity. His thirty-six years and six months as chief of the department might be an American record; it is certainly longer than the entire career of most firefight- ers. J. Ray Larrabee, who had been a fireman since June 16, 1913, was appointed as the next chief. He had left the fire service temporarily in August of 1917 to participate in the war effort. Returning on April 19, 1919, he rapidly rose through the ranks. He held the rank of assistant chief for most of his career before becoming the sixth chief of the de- partment. Ray Larrabee, born on September 22, 1892, was one of the most color- ful chiefs in comparison to his counterparts. He and his wife, who was considered something of a nag, had lived in the fire station until she left him shortly before he made

member of the West Palm Beach Fire Department, and any person may be an honorary member who may qualify as prescribed by the By-Laws of this corporation." Three committees were des- ignated in the charter: The Com- mittee of Sales, the Committee of Collections, and the Committee of Recharge and Installation. Reve- nue for the organization was de- rived from maintaining fire extin- guishers for the general public. This service was performed at each of the three fire stations by on-duty firemen. This practice would come under scrutiny by the city in 1962. Article VIII detailed the benefits of the members of the Be- nevolent. Benefits included:

A $600 death or total disabil- ity payment for all members; a $400 retirement payment for all members with twenty years of service with the fire depart-

J. Ray Larrabee, Chief 1949-52.

chief. Fireman Wyman Lambert loved to harass poor Larrabee by imitating his ex-wife's voice. He would yell "Ra-a-a-a-a-a-y" down the pole-hole, as she had often done, while Larrabee worked in his downstair's office. Larrabee had been exposed to very little formal edu-

ment; a $600 retirement payment for all mem- bers with twenty-five years service; a $10 floral offering for the death of any member or any member's immediate family; an engraved "Standard, Inc. Rolled Gold Badge" for all retir-

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