Do these name mean anything to you?  Should they?  You bet they should.  I do not know what the environment was like at the city or the fire department in 1958.  Some of you think I do, but I was only 4 years old at the time.  I know it took courage to put your name on this document. This is where it all started.

Lester Pelton, Cecil Nelson, Jack Abernathy, Thomas Cook, E.L. (Whistle) Hayes, Rudolf Garcia, Herbert (Fuzzy) Owens, Vernon Poor, Herbert Twyford, George Miller, J.W. Nelson, Bob Burkhart, Wilson Wright, George Melaun, Roy Schrick, John Rushing, Terry Harris, Owen (Bud) Bickel, Ted Cornelius, Calvin Herrin, D. R. (Shorty) Williams, E. J. (Buddy) Boren...

These are the names on the "Certificate of Affiliation" that chartered the Garland Fire Fighters Association, Local 1293 on January 18, 1958.  13 of these 24 members were here when I joined the GFFA.

Thanks to David Gott, Vice President and former President, who took our charter and had it very nicely matted and framed.  David presented it at the last association meeting.  I offered to reimburse him the cost, but David said he wanted it to be a gift to the GFFA from him to show his appreciation for what this organization has done for past, present, and future fire fighters in Garland.

Thanks David. 

Stop by and view this document for your self.  It is indeed a big part of our history.