Southside Virginia Volunteer Fir

On November 30, 1955, a group of interested fireman from twelve fire departments in Southside Virginia met at the firehouse in Kenbridge at the invitation of the Kenbridge Fire Department for the purpose of discussing the probability of forming a local firemen’s association.

Chief C. F. Callis of Kenbridge presided over the meeting until P. F. Gay of Farmville made the motion to form such an association, which was seconded by AL Tirelis of Alberta and was carried unanimously.

The Association was formed and exists for the following purpose: to create enthusiasm among its member departments; to coordinate the work of its members; to disseminate knowledge of firefighting methods and techniques; to promote and encourage cooperation among its members departments; to promote goodwill and devoted service to the people of the communities served by its members; and to promote a general interest in knowledge of fire prevention.

The first President elected was Chief C. W. Butcher of Farmville. The charter members of the association were: Alberta; Blackstone; Brodnax; Chase City; Clarksville; Farmville; Kenbridge; LaCrosse; South Hill; Victoria; and Wilson-Hebron-Ford (now known as Ford).

These departments represented about 350 men. Since the beginning the association has never ceased growing and now has 56 member companies, five associate, and two honorary members, representing approximately 1,600 firefighters in Southside Virginia.

The following have served as Presidents of the Association and the year elected is given:

1955 - C. W. Butcher, Farmville
1957 - E. W. Gee (declined), Victoria
1958 - Walton Yancey, Chase City
1958 - Harry E. Bailey, Kenbridge
1959 - T. E. Lee, Jr., Emporia
1960 - O. H. Bowman, Blackstone
1961 - L. W. Osborne, South Boston
1962 - J. R. Orgain, Jr., Alberta
1963 - W. E. Rowland, Halifax
1964 - Philip Gay, Farmville
1965 - Roy L. Coleman, Namozine
1966 - Kenneth Beidenbender, Chase City
1967 - Ted Slater, Colonial Heights
1968 - Bill Snyder, Clarksville
1969 - Donnie Wells, South Hill
1970 - Franklin W. “Rip” Tanner, Victoria
1971 - R. E. Williams, Colonial Heights
1972 - Jack Roberts, Kenbridge
1973 - Wayne Carter, Chase City
1974 - Archie Dishmon, South Hill
1975 - Ted Slater, Colonial Heights
1976 - Floyd Schumaker, Farmville
1977 - Maurice Pollard, Emporia
1978 - Edward E. Epperson, Kenbridge
1979 - J. E. Turner, LaCrosse
1980 - Jerry Morris, Lawrenceville
1981 - Hunter E. Gurley, Chase City
1982 - Howard Campbell, Prospect
1983 - Dillard Johnson, Blackstone
1984 - William Murray, South Boston
1985 - Frankie Tanner, Victoria
1986 - Jimmy Crowder, South Hill
1987 - Mike Morgan, Crewe
1988 - Charlie Singleton, Ebony
1989 - Tommy Johnson, Alberta
1990 - Jeff Gee, Kenbridge
1991 - Mark Slagle, Emporia
1992 - Carl Wright, Lawrenceville
1993 - C. W. Carter, Jr. , Chase City
1994 - Calvin “Sput” Jones, South Boston
1995 - Al Mason, Farmville
1996 - William Ferrell, Bacon District
1997 - C. Rosser Wells, South Hill
1998 - R. W. Hayes, Alberta
1999 - Jody Turner, LaCrosse
2000 - David “Shorty” Ferrell, Meherrin
2001 - Bill Parrish, Dolphin
2002 - Alex Graham, South Hill
2003 - Joey Schnepf, Crewe
2004 - C. W. Carter, Jr., Chase City
2005 - M. T. Clark, LaCrosse
2006 - Ferrell Alder, Kenbridge
2007 - Frankie Tanner, Victoria
2008 - Jason Bottoms, Brodnax

1955 - A. P. Tirelis, Alberta
1957 - Harry E. Bailey, Kenbridge
1958 - Ken Beidenbender, Chase City
1962 - Harry E. Bailey, Kenbridge
1963 - Raymond Wood, Chase City
1966 - Bobby F. Hudson, South Hill
1967 - Ken Beidenbender, Chase City
1971 - Richard W. Harris, Kenbridge
1984 - Calvin Jones, South Boston
1989 - Munsey Moore, Chase City
1992 - Ken Currin, Jr., South Hill
1994 - Lloyd Goddard, Colonial Heights
2004 - Wayne Dix, Victoria
2005 - Will Stembridge, Bacon District

1955 - H. W. Hudson, South Hill
1957 - Japper Carter, South Hill
1958 - T. W. Gregory, Boydton
1961 - John Phillips, Boydton
1962 - E. W. Gee, Sr., Victoria
2001 - David “Shorty” Ferrell, Meherrin
2002 - Wade Stembridge, Bacon District

The first convention was held in Farmville, Virginia, on August 22, 1956, and others have followed in:

1957 - Chase City
1958 - Emporia
1959 - Blackstone
1960 - Lawrenceville
1961 - South Boston
1962 - Farmville
1963 - Alberta
1964 - Chase City
1965 - Alberta
1966 - South Hill
1967 - Blackstone
1968 - Emporia
1969 - Chase City
1970 - Victoria
1971 - Colonial Heights
1972 - Farmville
1973 - Kenbridge
1974 - Chase City
1975 - South Boston
1976 - Colonial Heights
1977 - Farmville
1978 - Emporia
1979 - Kenbridge
1980 - LaCrosse
1981 - Lawrenceville
1982 - Chase City
1983 - Farmville
1984 - Blackstone
1985 - South Boston
1986 - Victoria
1987 - South Hill
1988 - Crewe
1989 - Kenbridge
1990 - Alberta
1991 - Kenbridge
1992 - Emporia
1993 - Lawrenceville
1994 - Chase City
1994 - Chase City
1995 - South Boston
1996 - Farmville
1997 - Bacon District
1998 - South Hill
1999 - Alberta
2000 - LaCrosse
2001 - Meherrin
2002 - Dolphin
2003 - South Hill
2004 - Crewe
2005 - Chase City
2006 - LaCrosse
2007 - Kenbridge
2008 - Victoria

Southside Virginia Volunteer Firefighters Association
P.O. Box 44
Wylliesburg, VA 23976

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