NAMES IN THE NEWS
FRED W. LANIER III of the NAS Jacksonville Fire Division in Florida has been named “1988 Structural Firefighter of the Year” by the Navy/Marine Corps Fire Protection Association. He is the first firefighter aboard the NAS Jacksonville to receive such an award.
A panel of 10 judged the nominees on accomplishments and community involvement. Lanier was honored for his development and construction of a number of hazardous-material training devices such as a decontamination shower, a pipe leak simulator, pressurized training cylinders, and a propane cylinder burnoff. The devices can simulate actual emergency situations. In 1988 Lanier was also named the “Red Cross Volunteer Instructor of the Year” for St. Johns County.
Lanier has instructed more than 500 people in CPR and first aid while off duty. He taught CPR in the Florida School for the Deaf and blind, and as a result of his classes, the Red Cross is converting its CPR handbook to braille.
Lanier is a second-generation firefighter— his father Fred W. Lanier, Jr. served for more than 32 years. The younger Unier has bcen_ at NAS Jacksonville since 1974.
NORMAN L. WELLS, fire chief of the Cincinnati Fire Division since 1980, has retired because of a job-related disability. Chief Wells, a 34-year veteran of the department, has served as the chairman of the Ohio Metropolitan Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Chiefs Metropolitan Chief Section, and the Joint Council of Fire Service Organizations. He has an associate’s degree in fire science.
William Miller, assistant fire chief since 1984, will serve as acting fire chief until a permanent replacement is chosen. Miller is a 41-year veteran of the fire department.
Chief F.E. “GENE” REYNOLDS of the Orlando, Florida Fire Department has retired after 35 years with the department. Reynolds, who was one of the founders of the Central Florida Fire Training Academy, was also recently elected president of the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs and was awarded Florida’s Fire Chief of the Year in 1985 by the governor and cabinet. He became chief of the department in 1977.
Deputy Chief CHARLIE LEWIS, a 22-year veteran of the department, has succeeded Reynolds. Lewis holds a bachelor of science degree in fire safety administration from Rollins College in Winter Hark, Florida and became deputy chief of the department in 1986.
