CEREMONIES HONOR FIREFIGHTERS

FROM: THE GREENVILLE (S.C.) NEWS
POSTED MONDAY, April 20, 2009

PUBLICATION: The Greenville News
WRITER: Abe Hardesty
PHOTOGRAPHER: Heidi Heilbrunn
PUBLISHED: April 20, 2009
SECTION: Local News
PAGE NUMBER: A2

Two longtime Greenville firefighters were remembered by the Wade Hampton Fire & Sewer District in separate ceremonies Sunday afternoon.

District commissioners formally renamed Station 1 (2815 Wade Hampton Boulevard), W.M. "Bill" Edwards Station, in honor of the man who helped organize the Wade Hampton Fire District in 1954 and served it until his retirement in 1980.

Edwards, who served as a volunteer or at a minimal salary for most of those years, died in 1996.

Later in the day, the station at 1112 Pelham Road was renamed in honor of the late R.B. "Rudy" Singleton, who was its first employee and served in the organization from 1958 until his retirement in 1992.

Retired Captain Curt McCain was among the speakers at the dedication of the Edwards Station. Retired chief Gary Downey spoke to the crowd at the Singleton Station.

Former volunteer Otis Coggins said Edwards spearheaded the drive to build water lines in the Wade Hampton District in 1954 and the effort to add fire protection in 1958. Coggins calls Edwards "one of the hardest-working men I've ever seen in my life."

Singleton helped increase the district's protective capability from one truck, one station, and one employee to forty-five employees, three stations, four engines and two ladder trucks. He also led the department from a Class 10 insurance rating to its current Class 2 rating. Wade Hampton was the first special-purpose district in South Carolina to receive a Class 2 rating.

Wade Hampton Fire District officials unveiled photos to the families of the men in ceremonies Sunday. State Representative Dan Hamilton presented resolutions passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives to commemorate the events and honorees.

NOTE: A photo gallery from THE GREENVILLE NEWS is available from http://tinyurl.com/cn5k5s. Video of FOX Carolina's coverage is available at http://vimeo.com/4242178.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Upstate Fire District to Dedicate Two Stations

Contact: Taft Matney

Date: April 16, 2009

Phone: 864/505-8866

E-Mail: taft@taftmatney.com

The Commissioners of the Wade Hampton Fire & Sewer District will dedicate and rename two of its stations on Sunday, April 19, 2009.

The first event will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Station 1 located at 2815 Wade Hampton Boulevard.

The second event will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Station 2 located at 1112 Pelham Road.

During the ceremonies, Wade Hampton officials will unveil each station’s new signage renaming the facilities, commissioners will place a plaque at each station, and Representative Dan Hamilton (District 20 - Greenville County) will present the district with resolutions passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives to commemorate the events and honorees.

District commissioners, department personnel, and attending elected officials will be available for comment following the presentations and announcements.

For media inquiries and to arrange a copy of event video footage and/or still photography, contact Taft Matney by phone at 864/505-8866 or by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com.

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