William R. Clark This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. www.sun-gazette.com

   www.sun-gazette.com/stories/NW - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/30/2002   Last Visited: 9/30/2002

   His name is William Clark.
   
   Clark showed up in 1930, fresh out of Washington-Lee High School, looking to help the then volunteer-only fire department.
   
   Today, at 90 years of age, he still shows up every week – as the chairman of the Arlington Volunteer Fire Department's board of directors.
   
   "I grew up playing with kids whose dads were firefighters," Clark said."Us kids would shovel the snow in front of the station on Columbia Pike so the trucks could get out when calls came in."
   
   Because Arlington did not hire paid firefighters until the early 1950s, volunteers like Clark were the county's first line of defense against blazes for several decades.Besides the ever-fluctuating staff, the department's gear was far more rudimentary than today's as well.
   
   "We didn't have the problems we face today with high-rise buildings – back then, a four story building was a big deal – but we also didn't have the sophisticated gear," Clark said."We were given a black rubber coat, gloves and a hat, and that was it."
   
   "Back then, filling a truck with water meant going to the nearest stream or open well, since the county didn't have water and sewer lines yet," he added.
   
   Clark said that when you enjoy something as much as he enjoys volunteering with the department, you don't really think of the danger.
   
   "I've been in my share of burning buildings, and you never know what will happen.You might step on a bad floorboard and fall through to the basement," he said."But you're doing something that helps people, and that gets in your blood."
   
   "They key to the job is being able to work with others," Clark added."If something happens to you, you need to trust the man beside you to bring you out alive, and he has to be able to trust you."
   
   Clark served as fire chief for Volunteer Company 1, during World War II.While his days of running into burning buildings have been over for many years, he said he hasn't lost the desire to serve.
   
   "I'm only four miles as the crow flies from the Pentagon," he said."On Sept. 11, I'd given my right arm to be there."

2. 2. History

   www.wvfd.org/History/history.h - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/9/2005   Last Visited: 7/9/2008

   William R. Clark was appointed Acting Chief of the Department on June 30, 1999 upon the retirement of Acting Chief Theodore H. Schroll, Jr. Chief Clarks appointment was made permanent a few months later by the Town Council.
   ...
   William R. Clark

3. 3. Board of Directors

   www.wethersfieldchamber.com/of - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/23/2004   Last Visited: 5/23/2004

   William R. ClarkFire Chief