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| 1973 - Lt. Gil Spencer |
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Three Station 9 "Firsts"
In December 1968, then-Firefighter Gilbert Spencer was the first career firefighter on "old" Platoon 2 to be assigned to the brand new Station 9 - then a one-man station. By 1973, Spencer, now a lieutenant, was assigned to Station 4 on "new" Platoon 2. In those days, the Station 4 officer was also in charge of the Station 5 and Station 9 firefighters on his platoon.
One day in May 1973, Lt. Spencer and Firefighter/EMT Walt Macdowall drove to Station 9 in Rescue 1. Spencer now recalls that their trip to Station 9 was for some sort of task, perhaps hose testing, that would keep them both up there for several hours.
Shortly after arriving at Station 9, Firefighter Macdowall was called back to Headquarters for an interview with the Fire Commission for the position of lieutenant. During Macdowall's absence, Lt. Spencer was ordered to put his gear on Engine 9, thus - albeit briefly - making him the first career officer on Engine 9. (And, yes, Macdowall was promoted to lieutenant.)
Completing a hat trick of Station 9 "firsts," in November 1984, Capt. Gilbert Spencer became Station 9's first house captain.
The first officers assigned to Station 9 were Lt. Dick Stacey (Pl. 1), Lt. Dan O'Connell (Pl. 2), Lt. Bob Chadwick (Pl. 3), and Capt. Gil Spencer (Pl. 4). Two years later, Spencer was promoted to Commander (now Battalion Chief).
Posted 1/13/12
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