Convention Teams of the Covington Fire Department
The Virginia State Firefighter's
Association (VSFA) was organized December 2, 1886, in Portsmouth, VA,
with Chief A.L. Furqua of Richmond, VA, being elected to serve as the
first president.
Several months after the organization of the Covington Volunteer Fire
Department on March 4, 1902, members decided to join the VSFA. A framed
Certificate of Membership hanging in the meeting hall at the main
station on Hawthorne Street indicates the Covington Volunteer Fire
Department became a member of the VSFA on July 23, 1902.
Covington Fire Chief Fred C. Jesser was elected to serve a one-year term
as president of the VSFA at the 1914 convention, held in Portsmouth.
Beginning in 1903, the department began competing in the VSFA State Convention.
A short history of the early days of Covington's involvement includes:
- 1903 - Danville - Team members ran the reel race in 33 seconds. With the 2 second penalty, the team actually ran the race in 31 seconds.
- 1904 - Alexandria - Covington won second prize of $25 in reel contest, with a time of 29 seconds.
- 1906 - Richmond - Won second place prize of $100 in hose and reel contest, with a time of 31.75 seconds. Covington's No. 2 station team had a time of 35 seconds.
- 1907 - Newport News - Covington No. 1
team won second place in the state reel race, with a time of 34 1/5 seconds.
Since becoming a member of the VSFA, the Covington Volunteer Fire Department has
had a representation at every annual convention of the VSFA, except years that
contests were cancelled due to weather.
Competition running teams of the Covington Volunteer Fire Department have been
very successful through the years.
Some of the highlights of successful running teams include:
- 1952 Convention in Charlottesville - Motor Hose Contest & Motor Chemical
Contest - Times Unavailable.
Members included Wilbur Bryant, Kenny Bryant, Bervie Faudree, Howard Morris,
Dewey O' Conner Sr., Paul D. O'Conner, Letcher Vanness and H.E. "Pat" Fridley.
- 1959 Convention in Virginia
Beach - Motor Hose Contest - 18.8 Seconds.
Members included G.C. Fawley, Jack Rumsey, Roscoe E. Humphries, Sam
Livesay and Dempsey Bush.
- 1961 Convention in Harrisonburg - Motor
Hose Contest - 16.20 Seconds (this record stood until 1989!).
Members included Dempsey Bush, G.C. Fawley, Roscoe E. Humphries, Sam H. Livesay
and Jack Rumsey.
- 1966 Convention in Buckroe Beach -
Four-Man Hose Contest - 18.29 Seconds.
Members included Jerry Burks, Roscoe E. Humphries, John Rice and Richard "Huck"
Tyree.
- 1976 Convention in
Pheobus - Four-Man Hose Contest - 15.90 Seconds.
Members included Jerry Burks, Richard Dickson, Butch Dressler and Roscoe
R. Humphries
- 1993 Convention in Pheobus -
Four-Man Hose Contest - 15.59 Seconds.
Members included Richard Baker, Dennis Lipscomb, Dennis Trainer and Stan Young.
Six VSFA conventions have been hosted by
the Covington Fire Department. A history of those are as follows:
- August 24, 1915
- August 25, 1926 - At this convention, Covington Fire Chief Fred Jesser was
again elected president of the VSFA, serving a one-year term.
- August 14, 1957 - Covington First Assistant Chief Bervie "Red" Faudree was
elected vice-president of the VSFA at the 1954 convention held in Danville, VA,
and served two terms in that capacity. He was then elected president of the VSFA
at the 1956 convention, held in Hampton, VA. He served two terms and through the
years, served on numerous committees. Bervie was also elected to the VSFA Hall
of Fame in 1993. The 1996 VSFA "Red Book" (minutes of convention) was dedicated
to him.
- August 12, 1973
- August 9, 1978
- August 13, 1986 - Significant as this convention celebrated the 100th
anniversary of the VSFA.
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©2009 Covington
Volunteer Fire Department
Covington, Va.