This picture was taken around 1994 by Maurice Wiseman in front of the Garden City Station 11. Gary was hired on February 3, 1986, his retire date will be February 1, 2007 giving him 21 years in the department. He worked his last day last week. From what I hear, he will be going to teach at a local school. Gary was most recently assigned as Captain at Station 3 on B Shift. I wish you a long and healthy retirement Gary.Mike Overacker has posted some more photos of the breakfast on RoanokeFirefighters.com. Check out the pictures here.
Willie Wines Jr. kicks off the breakfast and welcomes the Retirees
Willie Wines Sr., his buddy the Larry the “Governor”, Willie Wines Jr., Brent Berry, Wayne Hall, Stacy Boothe, and J.J. Price cooked up one hell of a spread for the guys. They should be commended for the breakfast they served to the group. We appreciate the job they have done for the second time now. Next time you see those guys be sure to say thanks.
Travis Collins, George Perdue, and Mike Overacker attended and were able to capture the event with photographs. Thanks to all the other guys who attended and helped out including R. T. Flora, Kenny Furrow, Rodney Jordan, and Jon Willdigg.
The Retirees seemed to really enjoy the event once again. I think that all the current firefighters really enjoyed seeing the “Old” guys have such a great time.
“Firefighting in
George Perdue signs “Big Daddy” Sullivan’s Book
After it was all over with, it was fun to kick back with the guys who had helped with the event and chew the fat. It was good to open up the Union Hall for another event. It seems as though the building is being used more and more for events. If any of you firefighters have an event coming up let us know if you want to use it.
From what I understand, the “Billy Obenchain” T-Shirts sold pretty good after the event at station 2. If you want to get a hold of one of the shirts, stop by station 2 on any shift and they will have one for you. Here are some pictures of the event, I will have the rest up on the Local site tomorrow.
The Union Hall was a packed house
The guys look over the book “Firefighting in Roanoke”
Amanda Codospoti, a reporter with the Roanoke Times, was able to interview many retirees for an article she is working on for the paper. Look for something on Friday in the paper possibly.
Captain John Sweeney is retiring from the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department after 31 years of service in the Department. John spent more than half of his time in the department at Station #2. John was hired by the Roanoke Fire Department on February 23, 1976 and is retiring with almost 31 years on the job. John is retiring from Station 11 C-Shift, where he has been stationed for the past several years. John has been a Haz Mat Specialist on the Regional Haz Mat team since it’s inception in 1985. He is a wealth of knowledge and will be missed. The Roanoke Firefighters wish him well in his retirement. John’s sons Benjamin and Brad recently graduated from the Roanoke Regional Recruit School, hired by Roanoke City. Photo left – John is seen working a fire on Ladder 2.
(above) Chuck Wells, Ronnie Renick, Brent Berry, John Sweeney,Ricky Trout, and Kevin Bell on Ladder 2 A Shift in the early 1990′s.
Picture from Maurice Wiseman
John Dubose and John Sweeney pack up hose after a fire.
Last night, over 100 firefighters, friends, and family members of Retiring Battalion Chief Billy Obenchain packed the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association Union Hall to celebrate the career of their Brother. (Read the entire article with pictures at VAFireNews.com)
Yesterday morning the firefighters of Roanoke City’s Northside C-Shift Battalion learned that their beloved Battalion Chief was retiring. Battalion Chief William “Billy” Obenchain announced that he will be retiring from the job he loved. Billy stated “I wanted to be here a long time because I enjoyed coming to work”. Billy has been battling Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma for several years and has been unable to work for the past several months due to the illness. For years, his love of the job was contagious among his subordinates and often brought out the best in his firefighters. (Read More)
I am working on something more, as a fitting tribute to Billy, so stay tuned.
Marci was the acting Battalion Chief of Training prior to going on maternity leave. When she returned she was assigned to the ARFF crew at Station #10 on A-Shift. Her last day is tomorrow.
We wish Marci the best in her new position as the Emergency Medical Coordinator with Lewis Gale Hospital.
The number of female firefighters in Roanoke City are now down to 7 as Marci makes the 5th woman to leave the department in the past 5 years.
Dennis Duncan at RMH ER. Photo taken by Travis Collins.
Pictured at Station #6 L-R is front row Bev Mitchell, Lawrence Breeding, Tommy Poindexter, back row John Proctor, Marlan Morris, Gerry “Big Daddy” Sullivan, Ronnie Cochran, and Gary Laprad.
This has been a busy week of retirements. Mike Overacker, Cecil Boyd, and Marlan Morris all have retired this week. All these retirements add up to a bigger recruit school than Roanoke has experienced in the past several years. I believe the magic number is 17 recruits this year. Of course you have to remember that Roanoke County and Salem have recruits in the school as well. I have also heard rumor of Lynchburg Fire-EMS Department actually having recruits in our recruit school. I do not know if this is true, but you never know.
Mike’s last day is today, call him up and wish him well.
His most recent assignment was to the ARFF company at Station #10. He was promoted to Lieutenant several years ago. Congratulations on your career and best wishes during retirement.
Pictured is Captain Thomas Burton, Randy Smith (standing on truck), and Michael Overacker. This picture was taken in the early 1990′s.
Authors note: unfortunately I do not have a picture of Cecil, if anyone else does, send it in.
L-R Lt. Brent Scott, Lt. Jim Hylton, Capt. Ed Watts, FF Kenny Hurt. 
L-R BC Bobby Slayton, FF Jimmy Jennings (retired), FF/PM Rob Joyner.Thanks to Jim Hylton for the pictures.
Captain Lynn Edward “Ed”Watts has retired after 30 years as a Firefighter in Roanoke City. Ed enjoyed his last day at Station #11 on B-Shift where he has worked the past several years. Ed worked at Fire Station #10 for many years prior to moving Southeast to Station #11.
Ed began his career on November 18, 1975 with the Roanoke Fire Department.
Ed was known by his peers as being carefree, and always looking to make people laugh. The picture to the left was taken around 1991.
Pictured is Captain Dalton Swanson, Lt. Ed Watts, FF Leroy Doss, and FF Stan FielderPicture taken by Captain Maurice Wiseman
L-R George Purdue, Matt Wheeling, Toby Bedwell, Phil Dillon, Travis Meador, Charlie Fotchman, ? in the back, Richard Lipes, Brian Conner, Willie Wines Jr., Me, Kevin Weeks, John Sweeney. Seated is Oscar Smith and Billy Obenchain. Somehow Gary Fisher missed the picture. I don’t think we missed anyone else.
Here Richard Lipes honors Oscar with his honorary Paramedic Certification. Oscar also received a gift: Bait.
L-R Oscar Smith, Billy Obenchain, Charlie Fotchman, Brian Conner, Richard Lipes, Travis Meador. The Crew from #2 C-Shift.
I apologize for being a day late on this post. I was stuck in traffic yesterday on my way to Atlanta. So here it is.
“Oscar was hired October 25 1982 giving him 23 years and 7 months.
He was sent off with a steak dinner per tradition and will be leaving afterwards.
There are no immediate plans to replace him, but as his 1st Lt Loren Thompson said “How can you replace him” others at 2 said why would you want to have another like him. Everyone from Chief Grigsby and Hoback down to Every unit on duty came by to see him off at some point. His traditional pencil in his hat is not going to be willed or passed on to anyone, he says he may need it. Oscar is planning 3 seperate trips in the near future and plans to do ‘some’ plumbing work a couple days a week and is eventually going to move to the lake.
he seemed in good spirits and said that he doubts he’ll miss the job or the city but will miss messing with the guys and will stop in from time to time to fret them.”
Oscar was one of those guys whose demeaner and personality will be remembered for a long time. That is a good thing.
L-R Front Ronnie “Chicken” Campbell, Lewis Kennett, Oscar SmithL-R Middle Johnnie Johnson, Charlie Fields
L-R Back John Sweeney, Jay Ransome, Billy Obenchain
I would have to say that the highlight for me was the fact that Jimmy Jennings picked up Pete Smith. Jimmy retired several years ago as a fireman at Station #1, and Pete (Elmer Elijah) Smith retired in 1974 as a Captain. Pete is right at 94 years old and worked for the Roanoke Fire Department for 32 years, he has also been retired for 32 years. That is what you call getting your money’s worth. Jimmy also brought Pete Price, another retired Captain.
I have heard a lot of stories over the years of many of the “old guys”, I have now met most of them. One of the very interesting things about the old guys is that almost all of them had nicknames. The nicknames were so well known that even to this day, some of the guys do not know their peers real first names.
Some of the nicknames include Scooter, Pooper, Slim, Stick, Floor Board, and Big Daddy.
I have received nothing but thanks for the Local putting on the event. I hope that the Local is able to continue putting on this event once, maybe twice a year.
Travis Collins was hoping to get a group photo of all the retirees. Unfortunately we were unable to pull it off. Logistically it was just not possible.
So thanks to all who helped. Check out the Local site to see who helped. Once we get all the pictures we will post a photo album.
L-R Eddie Carter, P.K. Hundley, Richard Carter, and Kenny WalkerThe only one left out of this picture is Kenny, the rest have retired (above)
P.K and Johnnie Lester receive Firefighter of the Year awardsat a Christmas Banquet (above)
P.K. at an unknown event (above)
