WPBFD History

Men of Central Station 1955.

ment and a friend to every fireman." Bill was presented a white officer's hat and a gold fire department shield. The Firefighter News reported the award in the May 1983 is- sue with a photo of Bill standing next to his beloved Jeep. He was also made an honorary member of the West Palm Beach Firefighters' Local 727 and was presented a fire helmet and bunker coat. It was probably the proudest moment of his life. Bill Kerr died in July of 1984 and was sorely missed by his brother firefighters. He will forever remain dear to those firefighters who were lucky enough to know him. God bless you, Bill, and thanks for all the help. The West Palm Beach Rotary Club helped publicize Fire Prevention Week in 1955. T-42 circled the down- town area picking up Rotary members and delivering them to their meeting at the George Washington Hotel. A photo of the truck crowded with prominent businessmen and Carol Baldwin, Miss Flame, appeared in the Palm Beach Post. A memo from

in the bushes that smelled of gasoline. In this case the fire had been accidental, but Bill had crawled into the shrub- bery to search for possible evidence. One cold night in the late 1970s Bill and his wife were watching television when suddenly the scanner squawked. Dispatch was putting out a big one. It sounded like everything in town was rolling. Bill was on the move too, pulling on his bunker coat and grabbing his leather helmet. Stopping to kiss "Mom" goodby, he real- ized he hadn't heard the address. He stood in the doorway listening as more units were dispatched. Then he heard the location, "Dale and Mayberry," and realized he was picking-up the Tampa Fire Department because of un- usual atmospheric conditions. That was a little out of his running card, so he sadly pulled off his gear. Bill continued his tradition of "first or second in" at fires into the early 1980s, but cancer was slowing him down, and several operations had failed to excise the dis- ease. Fire trucks began to drive by his house on Florida Avenue to sound the siren or air horn to say hello. Bill

Chief Witherspoon to the City Manager dated November 10, 1955, requested “an ordinance or civil service rule be passed requiring company members of the fire depart- ment to retire at the age of 62." The city commission passed an ordinance to that effect later in the month. A fire call was received at 10:19

said that alone "made his day." On April 16, 1983, he was hon- ored as Firefighter of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2007. Fire Chief Lamar Bell stated in his letter of recommen- dation that Bill " . . . is a living legend in the West Palm Beach Fire Depart-

Men of North Borough 1955. Front roe, L to R: Bud Smith, ??, David T. Williams; Back row second from left: Elmer E. Newman. Rest not known.

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