Business meetings, a corn roast, a dance, a memorial service, a banquet and a gigantic parade will be features of the 59th annual West Virginia State Firefighters Association Convention to be hosted by the city of McMechen Volunteer Fire Department beginning Thursday.
Since 1967 the McMechen VFD has hosted the event every 10 years which indicates that the McMechen fight-fighters do a top-notch job in putting on the event.
While the McMechen group — the firefighters, the auxiliary and the junior firefighters — were making final plans for the state event this past week, a memorial in honor of the late W. R. “Tubby” Gallagher was unveiled.
Gallagher was a member of the department for 51 years which included 50 years as chief.
The glass enclosed memorial, three feet by five feet, has been placed in the Firemen’s Hall.
The memorial — with the letters Tubby carved at the top — includes Gallagher’s helmet, his life membership card, several medals and ribbons, and several other items including tributes. -
Gallagher, who died nine years ago, is a past president of the state firefighters association.
Gallagher’s daughters, Mary Ann Storm, Ina Carol Poland and Dee Dunlap, along with other family members were present for the unveiling. The memorial was constructed by
Bob Ullum Sr. Bob Ullum II and Rick Paisley served as co-chairmen on the project.
Four members of the McMechen VFD serve as state officers. They are: George Bilich, first vice president; George Stewart, sergeant-at-arms; and Rev. Keith Simmons and Rev. Rodger Hughes, chaplains.
In addition, Rick Paisley is the state membership chairman, and is also a member of the fire prevention committee. Stewart is a member of the constitution bylaws committee.
McMechen VFD president Terry Davis is serving as chairman for the convention with Jeff Kady, vice president, as co-chairman.
Heading up the other committees are:
Program — Wido Curitti, Davis, John W. Lowe Jr., Sam Phipps and Bob Ullum II
Housing and Reservations — Brian Brautigan, Davis and Lowe.
Corn roast — Mark Martin and Chuck Myers.
Banquet — Fran Able, Kathy
Martin and Karen Phipps.
Parade — Charles Hawkins, Lowe, George Kolas, Jura and Mark Martin.
Memorial — Hughes, Paisley and Simmons.
Tours — John Burke, Paisley and members of the ladies auxiliary.
Registration — E.O. Bosworth and members of the ladies auxiliary.
Some 200 delegates are expected to attend the convention which begins Thursday at 9 a.m. with president of Robert S. Miller of Glenwood (Cabell County) presiding. Business meetings will be held both in the morning and afternoon at St. John Grade School gymnasium in Benwood.
Registration will be held Thursday from9a.m. until4p.m.
A corn roast and dance will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the firefighter’s shelter across the street from the fire station. Registered firefighters and spouses are invited.
During the time the business meetings are being held Thursday, the spouses will be taken on a tour of the Stile! Fine Arts Center and Oglebay Park.
The convention will reconvene Friday at 9 am. A memorial service will be held at the Benwood McMechen United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. conducted by Simmons and Hughes.
A business session will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m.
The Association banquet will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at the Bishop Donahue High School gymnasium with State Treasurer A. James Man-chin as the speaker. A dance will follow at 9p.m.
Also, Friday. the ladies activities will include a cruise on the Valley Voyager with a style show followed by shopping in the Historic Centre Wheeling Market area.
Following a breakfast Saturday morning at the Benwood-McMechen United Methodist Church, the convention will be called to order at 9a.m.
Invitations were sent to some 600 fire departments, bands and dance schools in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland to participate in the parade which will form at 11
a.m.
Persons along an approximately 4-mile stretch in Benwood and McMechen will have the opportunity to view the parade. The parade route will be along old W.Va. 2 in both Benwood and McMechen, terminating at 21st Street in McMechen.
The final event of the convention will be the awarding of parade trophies.