Julian Stanley Wise

I updated the post from a couple of days ago once already regarding the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew. I got some information today, which probably rivals the common information found on the internet. It also collaborates Julian’s employment on the Fire Department. So here is the email I received from a Firefighter from Greensboro:

“OUTSTANDING!!!!!

I was really impressed with the article on the Roanoke Life Saving Crew. It looked like it took a lot of effort and I appreciate it a lot.

Julian Stanley Wise was employed by the City of Roanoke, Va. Fire Department as an “Executive Secretary” to the Fire Chief and then he retired and went to work for Southern Oxygen Company (This information came from an old edition of the “First Aider”, a monthly newsletter of the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads).

I also know that it was his wife, Ruth, who originally put
the idea in his head of actually forming a group of people
to perform rescue work. The drowning incident that Mr. Wise witnessed really bothered him for years, and he took all available first aid and water rescue training offered during the day through the Boy Scouts and the American Red Cross. He was a Eagle Scout (just like me) and was active in the scouting program into adulthood.

Mrs. Wise passed away a couple of years ago, and I curse
myself for not going and trying to meet her, just to talk to her about what she experienced being married to Mr. Wise.

He traveled extensively to promote the concept of the volunteer rescue squad to various communities. Mr Wise was key in organizing the Danville Life Saving & FIrst Aid Crew (1945, still going strong and 100% volunteer) where I live and also helped get the Greensboro Life Saving & First Aid Crew started in the 50′s (eventually evolved into the paid Guilford County Emergency Medical Services).

He seemed to be a decent person and it is a damn shame there
is not more out there about him.”