Raleigh Fire Department History - Fire Chiefs

• Born October 12, 1885, in Raleigh.
• Joined first volunteer fire company as special member at age 16 in 1902.
• Appointed June 7, 1912.
• First chief of fully-paid fire department.
• Resigned by August 1, 1914, to become deputy insurance commissioner and first state Fire Marshal.
• He served 2.2 years in the career department.
• Died June 2, 1953, in Raleigh, age 67.
• Buried June 3, 1953, in Raleigh.
• Related to retired Battalion Chief G. Randy Bagwell, who is Chief Brockwell's third cousin by marriage, twice removed.

• Born November 13, 1883, in Raleigh.
• Joined first volunteer fire company in 1904.
• Hired by December 31, 1912.
• First Assistant Chief of career fire department.
• Appointed August 1, 1914.
• Resigned July 31, 1919, to organize equipment division of state highway division. Later the first commander of the State Highway Patrol.
• He served ~6.6 years in the career department.
•  Died April 1, 1949, in Raleigh, age 65.
• Buried April 2, 1949, in Raleigh.

• Born 1895.
• Hired by December 31, 1912.
• Original member of career fire department.
• Appointed Acting Chief August 1, 1919.
• Appointed Chief  October 1, 1921.
• Succeeded June 1, 1923.
• Left department circa June 1, 1923, with ~10 years of service.
• Died July 18, 1950, in Raleigh, age 55.

• Born May 29, 1888, in Granville County.
• Hired June 16, 1913.
• Military leave from 1917 to 1922.
• Worked for state Highway Commission from 1922 to 1923.
• Appointed June 1, 1923.
• Died August 21, 1926, in Raleigh, age 38. Died off-duty of heart ailment.
• He served 7.6 years in the department.
• Buried August 22, 1926, in Raleigh.

• Born June 13, 1890, in Wake County.
• Hired February 14, 1913.
• Appointed September 1, 1926.
• Succeeded May 4 or May 11, 1939.
• Left department May 10, 1939, with 26.2 years of service.
• Also President of North Carolina Fireman's Association in 1936.
• Died May 17, 1963, in Raleigh, age 72.
• Buried May 20, 1963, in Raleigh.

• Born March 27, 1890, in Wake County.
• Hired November 1, 1921.
• Appointed May 4 or May 11, 1939.
• Succeeded July 14, 1941.
• Left department July 14, 1941, with 22.9 years of service. 
• Died June 18, 1948, in Raleigh, age 58.
• Buried June 20, 1948, in Raleigh.

• Born May 5, 1906, in Wake County.
• Hired December 20, 1926.
• Appointed July 14, 1941.
• Resigned June 20, 1947, with 20.5 years of service..
• Was partner in Apex Funeral Home for forty years. Also founder and first president of Apex Shrine Club.
• Died August 4, 1966, in Apex, age 60.
• Buried August 6, 1966, in Raleigh.

• Born 1892 in Granville County.
• Hired July 16, 1919.
• Appointed Acting Chief after June 20, 1947.
• Appointed Chief April 1, 1950.
• Brother Hughie V. Lloyd, also fireman.
• Died February 25, 1955, in Raleigh, age 63. Died off-duty of heart ailment.
• He served 35.6 years in the department.
• Buried February 27, 1955, in Raleigh.

• Born February 17, 1907, in Rutherford County.
• Hired July 1, 1931.
• Appointed February 25, 1955.
• Retired June 1, 1973, with 41.9 years of service.
• Also President of North Carolina Firefighters Association in 1944 and 1945 (and other years?). President of North Carolina State Fireman's Association in 1958. Also Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilman after retirement.
• Died December 2, 1978, in Raleigh, age 71.
• Buried December 4, 1978.
• Uncle of retired Fire Services Manager J. Thomas Gattis.

• Born February 9, 1919, in Virginia.
• Hired February 15, 1941.
• Military leave, 1942 to 1946.
• Appointed June 1, 1973.
• Died November 10, 1974, in Raleigh, age 55. Died off-duty of heart attack.
• He served 30.8 years in the department.
• Buried November 12, 1974, in Raleigh.

• Born April 5, 1930, in Franklin County.
• Hired July 16, 1951.
• Appointed December 12, 1974.
• Retired November 30, 1982, with 29.3 years of service.
• Died August 2, 1990, in Wake Forest, age 60.
• Grandfather of Captain Adam L. Keith.

• Born October 30, 1936.
• Appointed February 1, 1983.
• Resigned January 2, 1986, with 1.9 years of service.
• First Fire Chief hired outside of department (Fire Protection Administrator, Jefferson County, NY).
• Retired Fire Chief of Louisville, KY, where he served 20 years in department.
• Resigned to become Public Health and Safety Director in Louisville .
• Died September 6, 2006, age 70.

• Appointed March 3, 1986.
• Retired July 1, 1995, with 9.3 years of service.
• Second Fire Chief hired outside of department (Director of Service, League of Municipalities).
• Started career in Burlington Fire Department, left as Director of Training
• Director of fire and rescue service training for NCDOI, for eleven years.
• Director of Service, League of Municipalities, nineteen years.
• Later married to retired firefighter Matilda A. (White) Pickard.
• Died June 9, 2015, at age 87.

• Hired December 28, 1964 .
• Military leave from 1966 to 1968.
• Asst. Chief of Operations from 1991 to 1995.
• Appointed July 1, 1995.
• Retired July 1, 1999, with 32.5 years of service.
• Uncle of retired Lt. Donald W. Griffin.

• Hired December 8, 1971.
• Asst. Chief and Fire Marshal from 1990 to 1999.
• Appointed August 2, 1999.
• Retired December 31, 2005, with 34.1 years of service.
• Son of retired Captain Billy T. "B.T." Fowler.

• Appointed February 1, 2006.
• Retired October 31, 2019, with 13.8 years of service.
• Third Fire Chief hired outside of department (Deputy Commissioner, Philadelphia Fire Department).
• Thirty-two year veteran of Philadelphia FD.

• Appointed September 8, 2020.
• Fourth Fire Chief hired outside of department (Asst. Chief of Operations, Houston Fire Department)
• Twenty-four year veteran of Houston FD.

Resignation accepted January 6, 1882

Resignation accepted December 17, 1888

Resignation reported September 10, 1894

Resigned October 26, 1908

Resigned December 1, 1911

Resigned June 7, 1912

Elected permanent chief November 1, 1912