Full-Time Fire Chiefs
|
# |
Name |
Served |
Notes |
Photograph |
| 1 |
Sherwood B. Brockwell |
1912-1914 |
Appointed June 7, 1912
First chief of fully-paid fire department
Resigned by August 1, 1914 to become first state Fire Marshal |
 |
| 2 |
Charles D. Farmer |
1914-1919 |
Joined 1912
Appointed August 1, 1914
Resigned July 31, 1919 |
 |
| 3 |
Hubert H. Horton |
1919-1923 |
Appointed Acting Chief August 1, 1919
Appointed Chief October 1, 1921
Succeeded June 1, 1923 |
 |
| 4 |
Lewis F. Hicks |
1923-1926 |
Joined 1913
Appointed
June 1, 1923
Died August 21, 1926 |
 |
| 5 |
W. Ernest Holland |
1926-1939 |
Joined 1913
Appointed
September 1, 1926
Succeeded May 4 or May 11, 1939
Also President of North Carolina Fireman's Association in 1936 |
 |
| 6 |
Ellis D. King |
1939-1941 |
Joined 1921
Appointed
May 4 or May 11, 1939
Succeeded July 9 or July 14, 1941. |
 |
|
7 |
W. Ralph Butts |
1941-1947 |
Joined 1926
Appointed
July 9 or 14, 1941
Resigned June 20, 1947 |
 |
|
8 |
Alvin B. Lloyd |
1947-1955 |
Joined 1919
Appointed Acting Chief after June 20, 1947
Appointed Chief April 1, 1950
Died February 25, 1955 |
 |
|
9 |
Jack B. Keeter |
1955-1973 |
Joined 1931
Appointed
February 25, 1955
Retired June 1, 1973 |
 |
|
10 |
Clarence R. Puryear |
1973-1974 |
Joined 1941
Appointed
June 1, 1973
Died November 10, 1974 |
 |
|
11 |
Rufus E. Keith |
1974-1982 |
Joined
1951
Appointed after November 10, 1974
Retired November 30, 1982 |
 |
|
12 |
Thomas T. Kuster |
1983-1986 |
Appointed February 1, 1983
Retired by March 3, 1986
First Fire Chief hired outside of department (Fire Chief, Louisville) |
 |
|
13 |
Sherman A. Pickard |
1986-1995 |
Appointed March 3, 1986
Retired July 1, 1995
Second Fire Chief hired outside of department
(League of Municipalities) |
 |
|
14 |
Jonny B. Sandy |
1995-1999 |
Joined 1964
Appointed July 1,
1995
Retired July 1, 1999 |
 |
|
15 |
Earl F. Fowler |
1999-2005 |
Joined 1971
Appointed August 2, 1999
Retired December 31, 2005 |
 |
|
16 |
John T. McGrath |
2006-present |
Appointed February 1, 2006
Third Fire Chief hired outside of department (Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia) |
 |
Photo
Credits: Brockwell, Keeter - Courtesy North Carolina State
Archives;
King, Hicks, Keith, Pickard - News & Observer photograph; Lloyd, Kuster - Courtesy Raleigh Fire Department;
Fowler, McGrath - Lee Wilson Photograph
Volunteer Fire Chiefs
|
Name |
Title |
Served |
Notes |
|
Joseph D. Backalan |
Captain |
1870-71 |
|
| John C. Gorman |
Chief Engineer |
1871-72 |
Resigned May 23, 1872 |
| Unknown |
|
1872-73 |
|
| Henry T. Clawson |
Chief Marshall |
1873-75 |
|
| Joseph H. Green |
Chief Engineer |
1875-81 |
Elected October 8, 1875 |
| William J. Weir |
Chief Engineer |
1881-82 |
Elected May 24, 1881
Resignation accepted January 6, 1882 |
| Thomas W. Blake |
Chief Engineer |
1882-88 |
Elected January 6, 1882
Resignation accepted December 17,
1888 |
| Edward B. Engelhard |
Fire Chief |
1888-92 |
Elected December 17, 1888 |
|
Charles E. Johnson |
Fire Chief |
1892-93 |
|
|
Edward B. Engelhard |
Fire Chief |
1893-94 |
Elected July 7, 1893
Resignation reported September 10, 1894 |
| Louis A. Mahler |
Fire Chief |
1894-01 |
Elected November 3, 1894 |
| Lonnie H. Lumsden |
Fire Chief |
1901-03 |
Elected June 7, 1901 |
| Walter Woollcott |
Fire Chief |
1903-05 |
Elected May 7, 1903 |
| John W. Mangum |
Fire Chief |
1905-07 |
Elected July 7, 1905 |
|
Frank B. Simpson |
Fire Chief |
1907-08 |
Elected Friday before June
30, 1907
Resigned October 26, 1908 |
| John W. Mangum |
Fire Chief |
1908-09 |
Elected November 6, 1908 |
| Lonnie H. Lumsden |
Fire Chief |
1909-11 |
Elected July 2, 1909
Resigned December 1, 1911 |
| Walter Woollcott |
Fire Chief |
1911-12 |
Elected December 1, 1911
Resigned June 7, 1912 |
| Sherwood B. Brockwell |
Fire Chief |
1912 |
Elected temporary chief June 7, 1912.
Elected permanent chief November 1, 1912 |
Copyright 2008 by Michael J. Legeros
|
