Chapter Seven
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
1. The name of the Corporation shall be THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INCORPORATED whose principal place of business and Post Office address is Sebring, Highlands County, Florida.
2. The objects and purposes of the Corporation shall be:
A. The preservation and protection of property from and during such fires as may occur in the City of Sebring and vicinity and to study and teach the latest most approved and the most scientific means and/or methods of fire fighting and of reducing fire hazards.
B. To secure proper consideration and cooperative action affecting civic and athletic interests in Sebring.
C. To uphold the principles of good government and to encourage the application of the highest standards in sports and athletics.
D. To secure cooperative action in advancing the common interest of the members thereof, in any honorable way.
E. To purchase, hold and acquire by gift or otherwise, real estate and personal property and to issue notes, bonds and other evidence of indebtedness therefore and to secure the same by a mortgage or deed of trust on the corporation’s assets.
F. To do all and everything necessary and proper for the accomplishment of the objects enumerated in this certificate of incorporation, or necessary or incidental to the attainment of the objects of the corporation and to have the same powers as prescribed generally for all corporations, by the General Corporation Laws of the State of Florida, as if each of said powers were set forth herein have verba.
All of which purposes are to be carried out, not for profit and without shares of stock, but simply to promote the objects of this corporation.
3. The qualifications of members and the manner of their admission, shall be as follows: Any male person of the age of 21 years or over, and of good character and standing in the community of Sebring, and who is a resident of Sebring, shall be eligible to membership in this corporation, provided that the resident requirements shall not apply to honorary membership.
The membership in this corporation shall be divided into three classes, namely, active, non—active or associate, and honorary.
Membership in this corporation shall be by election; any member shall have the privilege of presenting the name or names of candidates for election and upon report of the Membership Committee, if favorable, said candidate shall be balloted for, and if there are not more than three dissenting votes, the candidate for membership shall be elected providing the candidates’ names and applications shall have first been read at a regular meeting at least thirty days prior to the report of the Membership Committee and before a ballot is cast.
4. The term for which this corporation is to exist shall be perpetual.
5. The names and residences of the subscribers of this corporation, are:
G. C. Lighthiser whose address is Sebring, Florida
H. W. Long whose address is Sebring, Florida
Ray Morgan whose address is Sebring, Florida
C. F. Saunders whose address is Sebring, Florida
A. C. Altvater whose address is Sebring, Florida
P. G. Gearing whose address is Sebring, Florida
Geo. W. Wyandt whose address is Sebring, Florida
J. J. Lighthiser whose address is Sebring, Florida
C. G. Tripp whose address is Sebring, Florida
6. The affairs of this corporation shall be managed by a President, Vice—President, Secretary, Treasurer and a Board of Trustees, of not less than three nor more than seven members.
The officers of this Corporation shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Corporation and shall hold their office for a period of one year or until their successors shall have been duly elected and installed.
The annual meeting of this corporation shall be held on the 3rd Friday of the month of February in each and every year.
7. The names of the officers who are to manage all the affairs until the first annual meeting under this Charter, are: as follows:
J. J. Lighthiser, President
Ray Morgan, Vice-President
Carl Tripp, Secretary
Carl Tripp, Treasurer
The Board of Trustees are: George W. Wyandt, J. J. Lighthiser, and H. W. Long.
8. The By-laws of the corporation are to be made, adopted, altered or rescinded and/or amended by a two- thirds vote of the members present and voting providing such proposed By—laws or amendments thereto, shall be read at one regular meeting prior to the adoption of the said amendments.
9. The highest amount of indebtedness or liability to which the corporation may at any time subject itself, shall be Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) dollars, which amount shall never be greater than two-thirds of the value of the property of the corporation.
10. The amount in value of the Real Estate which the corporation may hold, shall be One Hundred Thousand ($100,000.00) Dollars, subject, however, to the approval of the Circuit Court Judge.
WITNESS our hands and seals this 2nd day of July, A.D. 1930.
G. C. Lighthiser, (SEAL) P. G. Gearing (SEAL)
H. W. Long (SEAL) Geo. W. Wyandt (SEAL)
Ray Morgan (SEAL) J. J. Lighthiser (SEAL)
C. F. Saunders (SEAL) C. 0. Tripp (SEAL)
A. C. Altvater (SEAL)
STATE OF FLORIDA:
HIGHLANDS COUNTY:
On this day personally appeared before me G. C. Lighthiser, H. W. Long, Ray Morgan, C. F. Saunders, A. C. Altvater, P. G. Gearing, Geo. W. Wyandt, J. J. Lighthiser, and C. G. Tripp, who being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says that they, and each of them, intend in good faith to carry out the purposes and objects set forth in the above Charter.
Subscribed and sworn to before me G. C. Lighthiser
this 2nd day of July, A.D. 1930. Ray Morgan
C. G. Tripp
Playford A. Naylor C. F. Saunders
Notary Public, State of Florida A. C. Altvater
My commission expires 12/24/30. P. G. Gearing
Geo. W. Wyandt
(SEAL) J. J. Lighthiser
H. W. Long
I find that the Charter as presented before me this 5th day of July A.D. 1930, is in proper form and for an object authorized by Chapter 3, Article 1 of Title 3 of Compiled General Laws of the State of Florida, 1927, and I hereby approve the said Charter and endorse my approval thereon.
Done in Sebring, in Highlands County, Florida, this 5th day of July, A.D. 1930.
W. J. Barker
Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit in and for Highlands County, State of Florida.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE SEBRING FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1920.
CHIEF - W. B. ZackaryASS’T CHIEF - Walter I. Moyer
ASS’T CHIEF - Wm. Vogelsong
SECRETARY & TREASURER - P. G. Gearing
CAPTAINS
Chemical - George Whitehouse
Hose #1 - Charles Shaffer
Carl Mooreland
Hose #2 - A. E. Withers
Dr. E. G. Skiff
MEMBERS
Chemical
E. L. Greene - Lieutenant
G. V. Hudson - Nozzleman
A. P. Butts - Nozzleman
P. J. Rippberger - Nozzleman
P. G. Gearing - Tank
Elbert Collier - Tank
Clark Cason - Tank
J. Lee Johnson - Openings
A. Varena - Hoseman
Thos. Whitehouse - Hoseman
Hose #1
Fred A. Yeager - Lieutenant
Harris Muff - Hoseman
Bill Babcock - Hoseman
Sam Outlaw - Hoseman
Everet Rice - Hoseman
Gerald Bee - Hoseman
Floyd Schumacher - Hoseman
Horace Garner - Nozzleman
Dewey Monsdeoca - Nozzleman
Wiley Taylor - Hydrant
Fred Muelemister - Hydrant
John Warren - Hydrant
Hose #2
F. T. Haskins - Lieutenant
George E. Sebring, Jr. - Hoseman
Dan Andrews - Hoseman
H. 0. Sebring, Jr. - Hoseman
Ford Heacock - Hoseman
H. S. Jones - Nozzleman
C. B. Jones - Nozzleman
E. W. Harshman - Hydrant
MEMBERSHIP OF THE SEBRING FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1929.
(Prior to Incorporation)
CHIEF - A. C. Altvater
ASS’T CHIEF - Payne M. Sebring
ASS’T CHIEF - G. C. Lightiser
CAPTAINS & LIEUTENANTS - P. G. Gearing
Carl Tripp O. W. Chapman
E. D. Estes K. S. Johnson
MEMBERS
Albright, Charles
Ball, James
Bonsall, Marion
Butler, A. L.
Coyle, Ray
Cook, Dorland
Dimberline, Tom
Dunn, Harry
Frick, G.
Gallaher, E. W.
Greene, E. L.
Hanes, W. L.
Heacock, Ford
Hicks, George
Ivings, Walter
Jaeger, Sid
Jones, C. B.
Jones, H. S.
Kieffer, Al
Kutz, Arthur
Kline, Harry *
Lighthiser, J. J. *
Long, Hal *
Long, Joe
Martin, L. L.
McGee, Ben
Morgan, Ray
Morris, R. E.
Naylor, P. A.
Rasco, R. A.
Raymond, Harry
Sidders, E. D. *
Smith, W. W.
Taylor, Bayard
Tulk, Eddie
Vann, N. N.
Whitehouse, George
Williams, Hayden
Williams, Laurie
Womble, Pete
Wyandt, George
Wyandt, P. Stan
Yeager, Roscoe
* Paid Engineers
OFFICERS OF THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.
President V. President Secretary Treasurer Trustees
------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------
1929 Hal Long Ray Morgan Carl Tripp P. Gearing Fatso Morris
First officers of Sebring Firemen, Inc. were elected. G. Wyandt
J. Lighthiser
1930 C. Lighthiser Ray Morgan Carl Tripp P. Gearing Hal Long
First Fire College - Sebring Firemen were incorporated. J. Lighthiser
G. Wyandt
1931 Carl Tripp J. Lighthiser C. E. Weaver F. Schumacher D. Schumacher
Firemen’s Field dedicated. Hal Long
Geo. Hicks
1932 J. Lighthiser O.W. Chapman F. Schumacher Carl Tripp C. E. Weaver
Firemen staged boat races. C. F. Saunders
E. L. Green
1933 P. Gearing G. Burton Jas. Ball L. Frantzen O.W. Chapman
Firemen built Tuscawilla Park pavillion. Hal Long
N. Lane
1934 F. Schumacher E. Gallaher Stan Wyandt R. Paschall E. L. Green
Hal Long appointed Fire Chief. Geo. Hicks
B. A. Cope
1935 O.W. Chapman Joe Long H. Raymond P. Gearing J. Lighthiser
Firemen won another baseball pennant. F. Wheeler
Ray Morgan
1936 A. C. Altvater Ray Morgan Jack Williams J. Lighthiser E. Gallaher
New grandstand built at Firemen’s Field. B. A. Cope
Stan Wyandt
F. Schumacher (1)
1937 Jack Williams A. C. Heacock Geo. Hicks M. Ferguson D. Schumacher
Firemen’s Highlands County Fair Association incorporated. E. L. Green
G. Shurtliff
1938 R. Paschall F. Schumacher H. Raymond P. Gearing P. M. Sebring
Firemen bring Newark Bears to Sebring for the third year. A. C. Altvater
C. E. Weaver
1939 Stan Wyandt E. Wilson Hal Long P. Gearing B. F. Williams
E. Wilson (2) T. Pollard (3) E. L. Green
Jack Williams
1940 C. E. Weaver A. C. Altvater T. Pollard P. Gearing B. F. Williams
A. C. Altvater
E. L. Green
(1) Served the unexpired term of E. W. Gallaher
(2) Served the unexpired term of Stan Wyandt
(3) Served the unexpired term of E. Wilson
OFFICERS OF THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.
President V. President Secretary Treasurer Trustees
------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ -------------------
1941 P. M. Sebring G. Burton F. Howard B. F. Williams A. C. Altvater
C. E. Weaver
E. L. Green
1942 W. Harshman A. C. Altvater N. B. Graybill C. B. Jones P. M. Sebring
A. C. Altvater
E. L. Green
1943 E. L. Green A. L. Butler F. Howard C. B. Jones A. L. Butler
P. Gearing
J. P. Lighthiser
1944 A. L. Butler L. C. Greene Dee long C. B. Jones P. Gearing
P. M. Sebring
E. L. Green
1945 C. B. Jones W. H. Dutton B. Cartwright F. Baguley G. Burton
P. Gearing
P. M. Sebring
1946 F. Howard M. Baker F. Schumacher F. Baguley C. E. Weaver
P. Gearing
A. C. Altvater
1947 Doc Johnson Miles Baker R. Baguley F. Baguley C. E. Weaver
P. Gearing
W. Harshman
1948 Ray Graddy B. Coker P. Gearing F. Baguley Doc Johnson
C. B. Jones
C. E. Weaver
1949 N. Graybill A. C. Heacock H. Livingston F. Baguley C. E. Weaver
C. B. Jones
Doc Johnson
1950 M. Baker C. B. Carter F. Wheeler F. Baguley P. Gearing
W. Harshman
C. B. Jones
1951 G. Marchand J. M. McAdams Ray Graddy F. Baguley F. Howard
F. Heacock
D. Schumacher
1952 J. M. McAdams T. Haywood Ken Wilson C. B. Jones A. C. Altvater
C. E. Weaver
F. Schumacher
1953 D. Durrance Sid Cooper Ken Wilson C. B. Jones J. M. McAdams
F. Schumacher
J. Fulton
OFFICERS OF THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.
President V. President Secretary Treasurer Trustees
------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ -------------------
1954 Ken Wilson C. B. Carter E. Pollard C. B. Jones J. M. McAdams
A. C. Altvater
F. Schumacher
1955 Sid Cooper E. Pollard Jack Hancock C. B. Jones W. Harshman
A. C. Altvater
F. Bryant
1956 W. H. Dutton E. Pollard J. Freeland C. B. Jones A. C. Altvater
P. Gearing
C. E. Weaver
1967 E. Pollard J. Masters R. Durrance, Jr. C. B. Jones W. Harshman
C. E. Weaver
W. H. Dutton
1958 L. Curl Bill Sebring C. B. Jones, Jr. C. B. Jones W. Harshman
J. M. McAdams
F. Heacock
1959 J. Masters J. Freeland C. Schumacher C. B. Jones W. Harshman
H. Livingston
F. Heacock
1960 A. Cucchiaro C. Schumacher H. Taylor C. B. Jones W. Harshman
Miles Baker
J. M. McAdams
1961 Gene Hamlin Gene Sauls E. Lanier Jack Hancock J. M. McAdams
Miles Baker
A. Cucchiaro
OFFICERS OF THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.
- - - - - - - - - - -
P. S. Wyandt elected as Trustee 5/17/1929 to fill unexpired term of Morris, resigned.
Ray Morgan elected as Trustee 11/1/1929 to fill unexpired term of P. S. Wyandt, resigned.
C. Tripp elected as Treasurer 6/5/1030 to fill unexpired term of P. G. Gearing, resigned.
C. Tripp elected as Treasurer 5/5/1933 to fill unexpired term of Leo. Frantzen, resigned.
W. M. Williams elected as Secretary 4/17/1936 to fill unexpired term of Floyd Schumacher, resigned.
Floyd Schumacher elected as Trustee 7/3/1936 to fill unexpired term of E. W. Gallaher, deceased.
P. M. Sebring elected as Trustee 5/7/1937 to fill unexpired term of George Shurliff, deceased.
E. Wilson elected as President 5/19/1939 to fill unexpired term of P. S. Wyandt, resigned.
Tom Pollard elected as Vice President 5/19/1939 to fill unexpired term of E. Wilson, elected President.
Hal Long elected as Secretary 10/18/1940 to fill unexpired term of Tom Pollard, resigned.
P. G. Gearing elected as Treasurer 10/3/1941 to fill unexpired term of B. F. Williams, resigned.
A. C. Altvater resigned as Vice president and Trustee 10/16/1942, entered military service. No record in minutes of replacement.
Doyle Schumacher elected as Trustee 8/19/1949 to fill unexpired term of Dr. R. L. Johnson, resigned.
J. M. McAdams elected as Treasurer 8/19/1949 to fill unexpired term of C. B. Jones, resigned.
MEMBERS VOTED INTO THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.,
BETWEEN JANUARY 1929 AND DECEMBER 1961
Albritton, Ben 1/5/1940
Albritton, Russ 12/16/1960
Babcock, George 11/21/1930
Baguley, Fred 4/16/1937
Baguley, Dick 9/6/1946
Bailey, Henry 4/19/1952
Baker, Mi1es 1/20/1939
Beach, Rex 6/5/1936
Bevis, Russell 9/15/1950
Blair, Alexander 10/21/1932
Bogle, James 4/16/1937
Bogle, John 5/7/1937
Brewer, Gordon 3/20/1942
Bricker, Ron 10/18/1940
Brown, Harry K. 1/3/1930
Brummell, H. E. 4/18/1952
Bryant, Frank 7/2/1954
Burton, E. G. , Jr. 2/5/1929
Butler, J. A. 3/15/1946
Butts, Bob 11/7/1930
Carter, C. B. 9/3/1943
Carter, DeWitt 5/18/1951
Carter, Lanier 4/15/1949
Carter, Roger 3/6/1959
Cartwright, Bob 6/4/1943
Cason, Ted 6/21/1935
Claridy, Alonzo 1/5/1940
Coker, Broward 1/17/1941
Cobb, Bill 1/4/1935
Collins, Cecil 4/17/1942
Cook, A. L. 5/15/1931
Cooper, Sam 12/19/1952
Cooper, Sid 1/21/1944
Cope, B. A. 2/21/1930
Cox, Pete 3/16/1934
Creel, James 1/3/1957
Crutcfieid, Earl 3/15/1957
Crutchfield , Henry 3/19/1948
MEMBERS VOTED INTO THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.,
BETWEEN JANUARY 1929 AND DECEMBER 1961
Cucchiaro, Andy 1/5/1950
Culverhouse, E. C. 3/6/1959
Crawford, Gene 8/17/1956
Cummins, Vance 12/6/1929
Curl, Lonnie 12/6/1946
Darley, L. C. 6/5/1942
Davies, Edw. S. 8/16/1929
Dean, Dick 3/16/1945
Denson, Walter 10/7/1954
Dimberline, Sam 1/6/1933
Dorton, Dick 6/4/1943
Durrance, Dallas 3/20/1942
Durrance, Dallas, Jr. 6/20/1947
Durrance, R. N. 7/3/1931
Durrance, R. N. , Jr. 10/4/1956
Dutton, Richard 1/18/1957
Dutton, W. H. 5/16/1930
Dutton, W. H., Jr. 3/15/1946
Eastman, Ben 2/2/1952
Ercoli, Joe 1/19/1945
Estes, A. W. 11/1/1935
Ewing, Hoyt 7/15/1938
Ferguson, M. M. 7/17/1936
Frantzen, Leo 1/6/1933
Freeland, John 5/15/1953
Foster, Charlie 7/2/1954
Foster, Herley 11/16/1945
Fulton, Albert 11/16/1945
Fulton, James 7/15/1938
Garrett, Guy 4/18/1952
Gearing, Don 2/1/1952
Geary, James 1/21/1938
Gerling, R. 6/19/1959
Graddy, Ray 6/19/1936
MEMBERS VOTED INTO THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.,
BETWEEN JANUARY 1929 AND DECEMBER 1961
Grant, Harold 5/17/1946
Green, Lewis 7/17/1942
Graybill, N. B. 6/4/1941
Gustat, P. J. 3/1/1940
Gustat, Paul 11/1/1956
Gould, Tom 12/1/1950
Hamlin, Donald 4/4/1958
Hamlin, Eugene 10/5/1951
Hancock, Jack 8/18/1950
Hancock, Roscoe 11/19/1943
Harriss, Albert 7/18/1941
Harris, Jesse 9/3/1942
Harrison, John 10/4/1945
Harshman, W. W. 1/7/1938
Haynes, Bill 9/6/1957
Haywood, Earl 3/6/1959
Haywood, Thurmon 3/19/1943
Heacock, A. C. 4/19/1935
Heacock, Ford 7/20/1945
Heacock, Ford Jr. 9/8/1956
Hansen, Don 10/15/1953
Heston, Norman 9/8/1956
Hodge, Winfield 9/3/1943
Howard, Bobby 6/19/1952
Howard, Forrest 8/7/1936
Hummel, Harry 11/16/1961
Hutchison, Douglas 10/5/1951
Ives, Selwyn 4/2/1937
Jackson, Jack 4/16/1954
Johnston, Dr. R. L. 9/19/1941
Jones, C. B. 7/19/1929
Jones, C. B., Jr. 10/4/1956
Jones, Tom 9/20/1940
King, Clarence 5/15/1931
Kinsey, Joe 1/20/1939
MEMBERS VOTED INTO THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.,
BETWEEN JANUARY 1929 AND DECEMBER 1961
Lane, Norman 12/6/1929
Lanier, E. 10/15/1959
Ley, Fred 4/16/1937
Lighthiser, J. P. 6/5/1936
Livingston, Howard 4/17/1942
Logan, Tom 12/7/1945
Long, Dee 3/20/1942
Long, Hal, Jr. 6/19/1952
Long, Joe 7/17/1931
Long, Max 5/15/1953
Longbottom, Charles 8/21/1942
Lovvorn, Chas. 9/20/1929
Mackay, W. C. 2/5/1929
Marchand, George 2/7/1947
Martin, C. S. 12/6/1935
Martin, Dr. H. W. 3/20/1942
Martin, Dr. L. W. 5/5/1932
Masters, Jack 10/5/1950
McAdams, J. M. 1/20/1939
Melton, James 7/17/1936
Miller, C. C. 10/19/1950
Miller, Bobby 11/1/1956
Morgan, Ralph 1/4/1935
Moore, J. W. 11/17/1944
Morrison, Charlie 12/16/1932
Muff, A. H. 5/7/1943
Munson, Al 4/16/1954
Musselwhite, J. 7/3/1959
Mitchell, Jim 4/16/1943
Nelson, Charles 3/15/1946
Page, Bill 4/17/1946
Pardee, C. S. 6/18/1943
Parker, Jack 4/15/1932
Paschall, Ray 5/5/1933
Perkins, B. C. 7/2/1954
Pettis, Bob 8/21/1942
MEMBERS VOTED INTO THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.,
BETWEEN JANUARY 1929 AND DECEMBER 1961
Poer, Mac 1/21/1938
Pollard, Bob 5/17/1957
Pollard, Dempsey 11/21/1930
Pollard, Eldridge 10/2/1952
Pollard, Tom 7/19/1929
Pollard, Willard 3/16/1951
Richardson, Ralph 6/5/1942
Roberts, Jack 9/16/1945
Rudasill, Smith, Jr. 11/4/1954
Rutland, Carnie 7/21/1950
Sauls, Gene 3/15/1957
Saunders, C. F. 9/20/1929
Sawyer, Jack 1/4/1935
Schumacher, Chas. 9/8/1956
Schumacher, Doyle 8/16/1929
Schumacher, Floyd 9/20/1929
Sebring, Bill 4/15/1955
Selph, L. E. 12/20/1957
Seron, Dr. Z. 5/5/1950
Shurtliff, George 11/1/1935
Smoak, Legare 9/21/1951
Spear, Ham 1/19/1945
Stiles, Joe 4/7/1933
Stevens, James 7/17/1942
Stevens, Wm. B. 5/17/1946
Stone, Fred 6/5/1936
Taylor, Haywood 4/3/1959
Taylor, Floyd 12/16/1960
Vinten, Ray 4/7/1933
MEMBERS VOTED INTO THE SEBRING FIREMEN, INC.,
BETWEEN JANUARY 1929 AND DECEMBER 1961
Wagner, Chas. 5/3/1929
Weaver, C. Elton 7/4/1930
Weaver, Doe 6/4/1941
Wheeler, Fred 11/7/1930
Wheeler, James 6/19/1952
Whitehouse , Tom 2/21/1930
Whitehurst, M. C. 5/15/1931
Williams, B. F. 5/7/1937
Williams, Hayden 11/20/1932
Williams, J. T. 7/19/1937
Williams, W. M. 5/5/1933
Willis, Ken 7/8/1941
Wilson, Ernest 4/16/1937
Wilson, Hank 1/7/1952
Wilson, Ken 10/5/1951
Wolff, Lamont 7/19/1929
Wolfe, Bob 11/4/1954
Woods, Jess 3/15/1946
Yeager, Roscoc 12/21/1934
Young, Dan 3/5/1943
Young, Bill 2/28/1947
Zeiss, Jack 6/4/1948