For the first time in 35 years, the Mt. Baldy Volunteer Fire Department won’t be led by Chief Bill Stead. The long-time resident and department mainstay has retired after devoting 40 years to the service of his community, 35 of those years as its leader. “I quit,’’ Stead said with a hearty chuckle when asked about his retirement. Although he no longer will be one of the first department personnel members to be notified in the event of an emergency, he will remain as fire chief emeritus and will serve with its board. It’s been quite the ride for Stead. His family used to have a cabin in Mt. Baldy until a 1937 flood washed it away. During the years, he’s lived in Pomona, Claremont and Balboa Island, but when it came time to set down roots, permanent ones as an adult and family man, he looked back and up to the small community above Upland. He bought a house and then built a log home himself right next to it. The Chaffey College and Cal State Los Angeles grad worked days with General Telephone. He retired there after 35 years. And all along he has donated his time (as a Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center volunteer, board of directors member and Foundation member) and some of his treasure (he and wife Carole made a very generous donation to the hospital to honor his parents Charles and Marion, which became the Stead Heart and Vascular Center). “When I moved here I realized there was no full-time fire department. The United States Forestry Service handled that. There was some equipment, so I learned how to use it. At the time, we had four or six people who volunteered when needed. Today, we have a whole department but one that remains all voluntary,’’ he said. “I got and stayed involved because I wanted to do something for the community. My dad always preached that you should take what you can from your community, but leave more than you took.’’ God speed, chief. SOURCE: The SUN Community
What? I'm almost the same age as how long he has been an active firefighter. Crazy. Mad props and respect to him.
You gave me a ******* heart attack you faggot. I was so excited U were quitting then I saw it was a joke..damnit