Names in the News
departments
Richards Retires
Chief John R. Richards of the Prairie Township Fire Department in Columbus, Ohio retired Dec. 31, ending 43 years in the fire service.
Richards joined the Rome Fire Department as a volunteer in 1936. He served as a volunteer until 1947, when he became acting chief in Prairie Township.
Noted for his successful five-year battle that resulted in demolition of the nearly completed six story, wood frame Beacon Club Towers apartment complex, Richards feels that this was his greatest accomplishment as chief. Construction was halted because of building code violations, sloppy workmanship, and unsafe building materials.
Robert Stormont, formerly assistant chief, has become the new chief.
Killen Named Chief
William D. Killen has been named chief of the recently consolidated rescue and fire fighting branches at Washington National and Dulles International Airports.
Killen joined the airports staff Feb. 11 after having worked a year as an explosive safety specialist at the Naval Surface Weapons Center in White Oak, Md. Prior to that, he was an instructor at the Maryland Kire and Rescue Institute, in charge of disaster planning and hazardous materials programs. For 21/2, years, Killen was chief of the Lake Barton, Fla., Fire Control District after 91/2 years with the Kennedy Space Center Fire Department at Cape Canaveral. He was a member of the original Apollo astronaut rescue team.
Casey Appointed
James F. Casey has been appointed deputy superintendent, Field Division at the National Fire Academy by Gordon Vickery, United States Fire Administrator, completing the superintendent’s staff.
A career federal employee for the last seven years, Casey has been involved with the development of the Department of Energy’s outreach program that serves 14 training centers throughout the nation.
His duties include coordinating off-campus programs and administering grants to encourage states to improve their fire training programs.
