During 1959 the main topic of discussion at Wilson's Service Station was the need for a Fire Company in our little community! The early dreamers such as Norman Lynch, Bill Hipple, Vaughn Lynch and Wilson Wilgus, spent many hours around the stove discussing how to start such a venture. After several suggestions, by many interested members of the town, it was decided to try and hold a meeting in the Old Knights of the Golden Eagle Lodge Hall No. 16. Wilson Wilgus spent hours on the phone calling men in the community to encourage them to attend this meeting.

Knights Of Golden Eagle Lodge Hall NO. 16 Photo By: Stuart W. Mumford

On February 12, 1960, thirty-three interested men were present for the first meeting. After much discussion on the needs of the community, it was decided to appoint temporary officers and form the Roxana Volunteer Fire Company.

Temporary Officers of the
RoxanaVolunteer Fire Company:
• Nelson L. Quillen - President
• Hugh Stephens - Vice President
• Gerald W. Pepper - Secretary & Treasurer
• Harold Hudson - Chaplain

A Ways & Means Committee was appointed to sound out to the community, for donations to start a Volunteer Fire Company. The Members of that committee were George L. Bennett, III, Preston A. Hudson, Roland Ennis, and Reese Hickman.

$230 was collected in membership dues during the first meeting.

During the next month, 46 men paid ten dollars dues to become charter members of the Roxana Volunteer Fire Company.

The minutes reveal that on March 16, 1960, the Bylaws Rules & Regulations were drawn up and approved. On the 28th of March, a certificate of incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

The first elected officers of the Roxana Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. were:
• Nelson L. Quillen - President
• George L. Bennett III - Vice President
• Gerald W. Pepper - Secretary & Treasurer
• Preston A. Hudson - Fire Chief
• Walter Wimbrow - Director
• Wilson Wilgus - Director
• Harold Hudson - Director & Chaplain

(Left to Right) Very first Pumper, Rescue Truck and first new Pumper purchased by Roxana Volunteer Fire Company. Photo Courtesy of Gerald W. Pepper

During the meeting of April 6, 1960, a committee was formed to hold a rummage sale as the first fund raiser for the Company. People donated anything they cared to, furniture and appliances of all types, farm machinery, tools, you name it and they collected it. At this time Walter Wimbrow offered the use of the Old Roxana School in which to hold the sale. The members immediately starting filling the building with donated items. A huge scrap iron pile was started behind the building. Wilson Wilgus donated his wrecker and Sunday afternoons were spent hauling in every junk car that could be found. The pile grew to a small mountain of scrap metal and junk of all descriptions.

The Fire Company was still holding meetings in the Lodge Hall. At this time a motion was made and passed to purchase the Old School House from Walter Wimbrow for $2,000. At the same meeting it was decided to purchase a 1939 GMC pumper from Indian River Fire Company for $1,300, to be payed over a period of nine months. Roxana Volunteer Fire Company, Inc., the beginning....