Elkhart’s Thompson Retires
Company News
W. S. (Stan) Thompson retired as chief engineer and technical assistant to the president of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc., this month. He joined Elkhart in 1955 as a sales engineer and a few years later became assistant chief engineer.
Thompson’s name is on some 30 patents for nozzles and other fire fighting equipment. In 1957, he was responsible for development of the SOS F series nozzles with which foam could be used. Two years later, he developed the constant flow, selective gallonage Select-O-Flow nozzles. His other product developments included the Select-O-Matic nozzles with automatic gallonage adjustment to maintain proper nozzle pressure and his latest nozzle design is The Chief.
After receiving a degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Toronto in 1940, Thompson first became associated with the fire service when he joined the Ohio Inspection Bureau in 1946. He is a member of the NFPA committee on standpipes and hose systems and he has been active in the International Fire Service Training Association preparation of training manuals — the Oklahoma Red Books.
Thompson also developed a pressurereducing device for sprinkler and standpipe systems in high-rise buildings. He will continue his association with Elkhart as a consultant.
Mack Trucks, Inc. has promoted Joseph J. Graffio and William Stoner to district managers for fire apparatus sales. Graffio is Pacific Southwest district manager and previously he worked for Crown Coach Co. as assistant sales manager.
Stoner is Atlantic district manager. He has held many positions in sales management as well as the presidency of a fire apparatus manufacturer.
Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co., Inc. has appointed James M. Trapp as assistant chief engineer. Trapp studied fire protection engineering at the University of Maryland and for two years was a fire protection consulting engineer in the Chicago area. He is chief of the Galien Township Fire Department.
