The Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Hall of Fame Award is to recognize present and former members of an organized Fire Department that have served both their Fire Department, County and/or State-wide Fire Service Organizations above and beyond normal expectations, over an extended period of time. Inductees shall have demonstrated both leadership and motivation, for the betterment of the Fire Service, throughout Connecticut and the United States. These persons shall have contributed, in a positive way, to the enrichment of the
organizations that they represented.

Not only is the goal of this award to recognize those leaders, as outlined above, but also to encourage young people to join the Fire Service, both career and volunteer, and to continue to provide leadership and experience, throughout their Firefighting years. Also, to serve as a means of educating and informing the public about the important and indispensable service and protection that the Fire Service provides for the citizens of our communities, state and nation.

Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Inaugural Class (2009)

Joseph B. Carrier

Joseph B. Carrier, of the Norwich Fire Department, began his Fire Service Career sometime prior to 1857.  He served as the 1^st Assistant Foreman of Young America Co. No. 1, Foreman of both the Union Fire Co. 1 and the Wauregan Steam Engine Co. No. 1, in the 1860’s, and rose to the Rank of Chief Engineer in 1870.  He later served as Chief of the Norwich and Greeneville Fire Departments, beginning in 1876, serving until his death, in 1890.  He also served as the Fire Marshal and Superintendent of the Fire Alarm System.

He is credited with laying the groundwork for Norwich’s first, permanent Fire Department, which began in 1902.

Chief Carrier was one of the nine “Founding Fathers” of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, in 1885.

Henry J. Eaton

Henry Eaton served as Chief Engineer of the Hartford Fire Department, beginning in 1868 and led the Department for 35 years, retiring in 1903.

Under his tenure, Hartford was the first Connecticut city to adopt the Gamewell Automatic Fire Alarm System.

Chief Eaton served in several leadership positions with the International Association of Fire Engineers.

He was another one of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association incorporators, in 1885, and served the Association, as its President, in 1893.

Charles A. Gerdenier

Charles A. Gerdenier, of Bridgeport, was one of the original organizers of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and served as its first President, starting in 1884.

Gerdenier was appointed as the Chief Engineer, of the Bridgeport Fire Department, in 1869, and was the last Chief of the old volunteer fire department and then became the first Chief of the career department.  He served in that capacity until 1894 and is looked upon as the Father of the modern Bridgeport Fire Department.

Amongst his numerous career accomplishments were the construction of the original Fire Headquarters Building, on Middle Street, and the purchase of the Department’s first aerial ladder, in 1892.

He was also a respected member of the National Association of Chiefs of Fire Departments.

Raymond Gergler

Raymond Gergler was a member of Mansfield’s Eagleville Fire Department for over six decades.

He served the Eagleville Department in a number of officer roles, culminating as being their Chief from 1969-1982.

Chief Gergler also was a President of the Tolland County Mutual Aid Association and a County Vice President for the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.

Ray was the long-time owner of the Wilcox & Reynolds Insurance Company.

A.C. Hendrick

Albert Cushman Hendrick, of New Haven, was another one of the dedicated individuals that created the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.  He is also a Past President of the Association, having served from 1886-1888.

Hendrick served in the military, during the Civil War and was raised to the rank of Lt. Colonel, for his bravery.  Originally starting out as a member of one of the city’s volunteer fire companies, he served as Chief of the New Haven Fire Department, from 1865 until 1892 and later, as the City’s Mayor, and then, their Fire Commissioner.

Hendrick also was employed by the former National Board of Fire Underwriters, where he served as a General Inspector of Fire Departments and Water Supply.  Chief Hendrick also served as President of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Club and, in 1873, was elected as President of the National Association of Fire Engineers.

Ernest N. Herrick

Ernest N. Herrick served as a member and Training Officer of the Eagleville Fire Department, in Mansfield for many years.

A long time member of the State of Connecticut’s E911 Commission, he served as President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, in 1981, and as the Chairman of their Firefighters Memorial Committee.

Clinton Hughes

Clinton L. “Jiggs” Hughes was a member of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department from 1947-1991.  Moving up through the ranks, he was appointed as their Deputy Chief of Training & Apparatus and then as their Chief of Department, serving in that capacity from 1972 to 1991, when he was honored by being named as their Chief Emeritus.

Chief Hughes, who served with the United States Navy during World War II, also was the Director of the Wethersfield Firefighters Association.

Active in many state, regional and national professional organizations, “Jiggs” was a member and President of the Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan, President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association in 1971, a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and a member and President of the New England Fire Chiefs Association.

A staunch supporter of firefighter training, he was a State Certified Instructor who taught at the New Haven, Willimantic and Hartford Regional Fire Schools.  A co-author of the very first national training manual for Vehicular Extrication, he also was a contributing author to Fire Engineering Magazine, on the Hazards of Truck Fires.

Over the years, he received many honors and awards, including the 1962 Connecticut Outstanding Firefighter of the Year, the 1963 Jacob Ruppert Firefighters Award for Bravery, the 1992 Hartford County Appreciation Award, and the 1985 Award of Accomplishment from the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association.  He also was cited, by then Governor William O’Neil, when the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department received a Class 3 Rating from the Insurance Services Office.

Isaac B. Hyatt

Isaac B. Hyatt was also a founding member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and served as the Meriden Fire Chief for 25 Years.

Chief Hyatt was a Civil War Veteran, having served with 17^th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.  A native of Norwalk, he relocated to Meriden after his Army discharge, to seek employment.  His service with the Meriden Volunteer Fire Department began when he became a member of the Charter Oak Hose Company.  He later switched his membership to the Ever Ready Hook & Ladder Company, of which he became a Foreman and then their Captain.  In 1879, he became Chief of the Department.

During his time as Chief, he devoted significant energy to public education in fire protection and prevention, which resulted in a decline in the city’s fire losses.

Hyatt was also a member of the Fire Chiefs Club of Connecticut and served as President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association in 1988-89.

William S. Johnson

William S. “Wiggy” Johnson started his association with the West Haven Fire Department with their volunteer Hook & Ladder Co. 1 in 1956 and was appointed as a Career Firefighter in 1966.  Later, moving through the ranks, he was elevated first to Lieutenant, then Captain, then Assistant Chief, finally achieving the rank of Chief of Department in 1981 – a position he held until 2007.

A retired Lt. Colonel with the United States Marine Corps Reserves, he served for ten years as the City of West Haven’s Emergency Management Director and as the city’s Emergency Reporting Station (911 Answering Point) from 1984-2007.

Chief Johnson held Connecticut Certifications for Fire Marshal, Firefighter III, Fire Officer and Fire Instructor.  He was a graduate of the National Fire Academy and served as one of their Adjunct Instructors.  He also filled the role of a Practitioner in Residence at the University of New Haven, from 1979 through 1994.  He also was the author of “Personnel Administration, Fire Chiefs Handbook, 5^th Edition” and “Incident Command, Fire Service Connections”.

Very active in a number of professional organizations, “Wiggy” was President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, in 1992, and was also a President of both the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association and the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs Association.  He also held memberships with the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, the Connecticut Fire Instructors Association, the Connecticut Firefighters Irregulars Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Fire Protection Association.

John S. Jones

John S. Jones, of Westport, served that Department, as Chief, for fifteen years.  A founding member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, he also served as the Association’s Secretary for a number of years.

He was a long-time active member of the International Association of Fire Engineers and also was one of the organizers of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Club.

Additionally, he served as the Town’s Postmaster, Clerk of the Probate Court, Vestry Clerk of the Episcopal Church and President of the Westport Board of Trade.  Jones also founded the Westport Herald newspaper.

Avery W. Lamphier

Avery W. Lamphier was a member of the Watertown Fire Department for over 40 years, serving as their Chief and Fire Marshal for 27 of those years.

Chief Lamphier served with the United States Marine Corps during World War II, serving in the South Pacific in the battles of Tarawa, Guam and Okinawa.  At Watertown’s Veterans Memorial Park, the athletic complex is named in his honor.

Very active in numerous fire service organizations, he was President of the Litchfield County Fire Emergency Plan and served as Litchfield County’s Fire Coordinator.  He was a Director and Instructor with the Burrville (Litchfield County) Regional Fire School and was a Founder and the first Director of the Wolcott Regional Fire School.

One of the Founders and a President of the Greater Waterbury Area Fire Chiefs Association, he is also a former President of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association.  Lamphier also was active on the state legislative front, having served as the Chair of the Legislative Committees of both the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association and the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association.

Additionally, he served on the Advisory Board that established the State of Connecticut’s Fire Administrator position.  From 1987 through 1999, he was a State of Florida Fire Commissioner, representing the Englewood Special Area Fire District.

Chief Lamphier also was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, as well as the New England Association of Fire Chiefs.

John J. McAuliffe, Jr.

John J. McAuliffe, Jr. was a member of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department for over 50 years, joining them in 1958.  Holding a number of Officer’s Ranks, he was, at various times, their Department Training Officer, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief and ultimately Chief, from 1991 through 1996.  He is also recognized as having been the first President of the Wethersfield Firefighters Association. At one point, he worked as a Disaster Assistance Employee with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A military veteran, he was once named the United States Army Regimental Soldier of the Year.  Also a renowned Fire Service Instructor, he taught at the New Haven, Willimantic and Hartford Regional Fire Schools, as well as at the Connecticut State Police Academy.  He was the co-author of the first, internationally distributed manual on Extrication and Vehicle Rescue and also of the manual on Life Star Helicopter Protocols for the Fire Service.  He also wrote articles, for Fire Engineering magazine, on Chlorine Emergencies and Sewer Rescues.

John was a Past President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and also served as the Chair of their Legislative Committee, for many years.  He was a member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association and served as their Vice Chairman.  For 25 years, he held the positions of Director and Assistant Director with the National Volunteer Fire Council.

Chief McAuliffe was the Chair of Governor Ella Grasso’s Blue Ribbon Committee for promulgation of Fire Rescue Regulations for Connecticut.  He also sat on numerous committees of both the National Volunteer Fire Council and the National Fire Protection Association.

Also recognized for heroic, line-of-duty actions, he received both the International Association of Fire Chief’s Award for Excellence and the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s Citation for Bravery.

Robert “Red” McKeon

Robert “Red” McKeon became a member of the Occum Volunteer Fire Department, in Norwich, in 1944 and served as their Deputy Chief from 1956 through 1959.  He was one of the very first people to be certified as a Connecticut Emergency Medical Technician and was a Founder of the Occum Ambulance Service.

A strong advocate for the Volunteer Fire Service, at all levels, “Red” held leadership positions within the National Volunteer Fire Council for decades.  He was an Alternate Director, Director and finally, their Chairman from 1991 through 1995.

McKeon was also very active with many Connecticut Fire Service groups.  He served the Connecticut State Firefighters Association in the elected offices of President and Treasurer.  He also served, in both of those roles, with the New London County Fire Chiefs Association.

A certified Connecticut Fire Instructor, he was also on the Adjunct faculty at the National Fire Academy, in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  At one point, he worked very hard, in collaboration with Hartford Hospital, the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Department of Transportation to arrange the first, official full crew landing of Connecticut’s LifeStar Helicopter, at the Occum Department Station, on May 1, 1985, at 4:16 P.M.

“Red” was on the State of Connecticut’s Advisory Board to the Office of Emergency Medical Services and held Offices in the City of Norwich including being their Third Selectman and a Constable.  Norwich’s R. Red McKeon Park was dedicated to him.

In 2007, he was honored with the International Association of Fire Service’s Award.

Samuel C. Snagg

Samuel Snagg served the Waterbury Fire Department for fifty years, thirty two of which were as Chief of the Department.

A Civil War veteran, he was a member of the New Haven, Company C, First Regiment and fought in the battles of Yorktown, Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill.

After the end of the war, he became a Charter Member of Waterbury’s Monitor Hose Co. No. 3 and served as their Foreman for three terms.

Another founding member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, he served as the Association’s Treasurer for over thirty years.

H.P. Stevens

Howard Stevens was one of the founding members of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and was a Chief Engineer of the Danbury Fire Department in 1885, starting his fire service activities as a member of the Kohanza Hose Company.

On February 7, 1884 the Danbury Fire Department appointed a committee, headed by Assistant Chief Engineer Howard B. Stevens, and empowered it to draw up and present, to the State Legislature, a petition asking that money raised by taxes, on insurance companies, be used to compensate firefighters injured in the Line of Duty.  The matter was brought before the Legislature’s Insurance Committee, where it was ably argued by Danbury’s Howard Taylor.  The initiative was reported on favorably, but action was deferred to the next Session, because no Bill had been drawn up for the assembly to act upon.

The failure of the State Legislature to act upon the petition did not deter the young, 27 year old Assistant Chief from continuing his efforts to improve conditions for all Connecticut Firefighters.  His correspondence, with other Departments, had demonstrated that a widespread interest, in obtaining compensation for injured Firemen, existed.

In early May, 1884, Stevens issued a call to all Fire Chiefs to meet in New Haven, for the purpose of forming a State Firemen’s Association.  The meeting was called to order on the 22^nd of that month, by Chief Stevens.  In his opening address, he expressed hope that the politicians would never gain control of the organization.

The first officers elected were:  Chief Charles Gerdenier of Bridgeport as President; Howard Stevens of Danbury as Vice President; A.C. Hendrick of New Haven and W.B. Thomas of New London as Vice Presidents.  The Secretary was I.B. Hyatt of Meriden and the Treasurer was S.C. Snagg of Waterbury.

On August 12, 1884, Danbury hosted the first State Firemen’s Convention.  In the order of business, the Association decided its objectives would include the compiling of fire statistics, collecting information regarding the practical workings of the different types of organizations and systems and the improvement of apparatus and their methods of use.  They also pledged themselves to protect and promote the best interests of all Firemen of the State of Connecticut.

On June 2, 1885, the most destructive fire to affect Danbury, since 1777, started at the Beckerle Hat Company.  The water pressure in the area was very low and the fire spread to several other buildings, due to the radiant heat.  Five civilians lost their lives and many more, including several firemen, were seriously injured.  Two of the Firefighters, Howard Ives and Stephen Rogers, were the first two Connecticut Firemen to receive benefits from the State Firemen’s Association.  On June 16, 1885 Chief Stevens resigned, when the politicians called for his removal.  Although most of today’s Firefighters would not recognize his name, the dedication and hard work, of Howard P. Stevens, lives on.

Richard P. Sylvia

Richard Pratt Sylvia was a member of the Noroton Volunteer Fire Department for over 50 years and served as their Chief of Department from 1962-1969.

A prolific writer, “Dick” was a Reporter and Photographer for the New York Sun newspaper and was the Head of the Night Copy Desk for the New York World Telegram newspaper.  He also was affiliated with Fire Engineering magazine, holding the title of Associate Editor and later, as their Editor.  He wrote and published the Fire Engineering article, “Volunteers Corner”, for 221 consecutive months.  Richard Sylvia also authored two books, “Modern Suburban Firefighting” and “A Study Guide to Fire Service Hydraulics Questions and Answers”.

A Member and Past President of the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association, he also served on the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and was that group’s Vice Chairman.  Richard Sylvia also was a member of the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association, the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Fire Protection Association.

He was presented the International Society of Fire Service Instructors’ Award of Merit in both 1978 and 1983.  He also was cited in Letters of Commendation from Iona College, the Texas Society of Fire Service Instructors, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the Chittenden County Firefighters Association.

W.B. Thomas

William B. Thomas was the 2^nd Assistant Chief of New London’s Niagara Engine Company, from 1861-1862.  He became Foreman in 1863.  In 1872, he became Chief of the New London Fire Department and served in that role until 1889.

Chief Thomas was a founding incorporator of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, he was also an active member of the Connecticut Fire Chief’s Club and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Fire Prevention Association of Connecticut.

He is reputed to be the most popular member of the Department, during his time.  He was known for all of his work with the N.L.F.D. and was considered a foremost leader in the Fire Service.  On May 1, 1879, New London’s Relief Company No. 3 unanimously voted to change their name to the W.B. Thomas Co. No. 3.

Nomination Forms are encouraged and are available by clicking this link. Nominations can be submitted at any time. Traditionally, there ishttp://csfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CSFA-Hall-of-Fame-Award-Description-Application.pdf a cutoff date, during the month of November. Nominations are then reviewed and those selected, for induction, are notified during the following January. The annual induction dinner/ceremony is traditionally held the following April. The submitted nomination packet describes the nominee’s positions, deeds, accomplishments, awards of distinction, lengths of service and other pertinent information – including, but not limited to other worthwhile community services and recognitions.

Headshots may be submitted by email to webmaster@csfa.org.