HomeMy WebLinkAbouthistory of central assoc 1893 1976 firemens association_0013CENTRAL NEW YORK FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Fire Department, Walton; Best Appearing Auxiliary, McLean; Best School Band, Oxford; and Best
Drum & Bugle Corps, Frankfort.
For the first time in the history of the association, Oneida County held a Central Convention
as Whitesboro hosted the Convention in 1966. Paul E. O'Connor of Waterloo was elected President,
Lampert G. Anderson, 1st Vice -President and Arthur J. Brown from Sidney as 2nd Vice -President -
Arthur Churches, Official Starter, declined to run for this office. Donald Riley of Odessa was elected
as the new Official Starter, an office he still holds. Lawrence Decker became a life member making
him the 35th Past -President to receive this honor. The Geneva Fire Department donated a new
overall Point Trophy for the hose races in memory of their past Chief, Louis McGuigan. President
O'Connor donated a Sportsmanship Trophy to be awarded to the hose team most deserving of it.
Montour Falls and Gilbertsville tied for first for the overall points trophy in the hose races with 5
points each and both received one leg on the new Trophy. North Norwich was the first winner of
the Sportsmanship Trophy. The First Aid contest was won by Greene as they retired the Donald M.
Brown Memorial Trophy, having won it for the third time. A new all -Point Trophy was presented to
the association by the Norwich Fire Department in the name of Maurice "Mike" Weeks, a Charter
member of the Norwich Emergency Squad. Parade results in Whitesboro were: Best Appearing Fire
Department, Montour Falls; Best Auxiliary, McLean; Best Drum & Bugle Corps, Wampsville; and Best
School Band, Greene.
In August 1967, Fowler Finch was elected President of the State Firemen's Association and
Larry Dwyer, 1st Vice -President. Both officers are members of the Central Association.
�- Seneca County, for only the second -time in the history of the association, was awarded the
1967 Convention as it was held in Border City. The 4th Annual Convention was held in Waterloo in
1896. Due to ill health, Historian Harry Woodburn resigned. He was first elected in 1961; Harry
Dunlap of Pine City was elected Historian to replace Mr. Woodburn. The officers of the association
all succeeded themselves with Paul O'Connor as President.
Special tributes were paid to both Harry Woodburn of Waverly and Herbert C. Furman of Pine
City. They were both made life members of the association at the annual meeting. In addition to
being a life member of the Pine City Fire Department, Mr. Furman has served his Department as
President, Deputy Chief and Fire Commissioner, an office he has held for the past 15 years. "Herb"
was awarded the Fireman of the Year award from the Chemung County Firemen's Association in
1964, and was presented a plaque in 1965 by the "Central Old Timers" in recognition of his many
services in the association. Hb has been co-chairman of the Legislative Committee and served on both
the Steering and Hospitality Committees.
The death of John J. Bell, a member of the Owego Fire Department for 64 years and a life
member of the association, was announced at the memorial service. Mr. Bell answered his last alarm
on April 10, 1967.
The Chenango Emergency Squad was the winner of the First Aid contest held on Friday night
and were awarded the Maurice A. Weeks Memorial Trophy. Odessa Fire Department was top winners
Historian .............. FREDERICK D. TODD
7 Salo Drive
10 Trumansburg. N.Y. 14886