[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17588]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF FIVE RETIRING MEMBERS OF THE CAMDEN CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2010

  Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor five members of the 
Camden City Fire Department who have provided years of dedicated 
service to the Camden, New Jersey community. Chief Kevin Hailey, Chief 
Ralph Roberts, Chief Maurice Wilson, Chief Darryl Lewison and Chief 
Larry Wilson deserve to be recognized for their hard work and devotion 
to the Camden City Fire Department.
  Chief Kevin Hailey began his many years of service in April of 1981 
when he was hired by the Camden City Fire Department. The youngest Fire 
Captain in the Camden City Fire Department's history, Chief Hailey went 
on to become Battalion Chief and then Deputy Chief. After 28 years of 
devoted service to the Camden City Fire Department, Chief Hailey 
retired on May 1, 2010. Married to his high school sweetheart Melvina 
since 1989, Chief Hailey is the proud father of one daughter, Kelly.
  Chief Ralph Roberts has represented the Camden City Fire Department 
as Firefighter, Fire Inspector, Fire Captain, Assistant Training 
Officer, Fire Sub Code Official, Emergency Management Coordinator and 
New Jersey State Licenses Inspector. An advisor on many city boards who 
holds a degree in Fire Science, Chief Roberts was an invaluable member 
of the Camden City Fire Department for 28 years. He retired on June 1, 
2010.
  Chief Maurice Wilson became a member of the Camden City Fire 
Department in April of 1982. After being promoted to Captain in 
February of 1996, he was further promoted to Battalion Chief in April 
of 2001 and Deputy Chief in January of 2005 before retiring on May 1, 
2010 after 28 years with the Camden City Fire Department. Chief Wilson 
and his wife Betty have two children.
  Chief Darryl Lewison was hired by the Camden City Fire Department in 
1982 and was quickly assigned to Ladder 3 on 4 group where he spent the 
next six years before transferring to Ladder 2. Chief Lewison served as 
Captain of Engine 7 on 3 group in 1992 and was then assigned to Rescue 
1 on 4 group. After eight years, Chief Lewison was transferred to 
Engine 10 on 4 platoon and continued on to Ladder 2. In 2001, Chief 
Lewison was made Battalion Chief on 2 group and then transferred to 
Battalion 1 on 1 group. After 28 years of dutiful service, Chief 
Lewison retired on May 1, 2010.
  Chief Larry Wilson joined the Camden City Fire Department in 1981 
after serving as a U.S. Marine from 1972-1975 and attending school at 
Rutgers University and Camden County College. Chief Wilson was assigned 
to Engine 6 on 3 group before transferring to both Engine 7 and Ladder 
3. After his promotion to Captain of Engine 7 in 1996, Chief Wilson was 
transferred to Engine 11 and then promoted to Battalion Chief of 
Battalion 2 on group 3. After 28\1/2\ years of service, Chief Wilson 
retired on April 1, 2010. The proud father of four children, Chief 
Wilson and his wife, Joan, have nine grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, the commitment of Chief Kevin Hailey, Chief Ralph 
Roberts, Chief Maurice Wilson, Chief Darryl Lewison and Chief Larry 
Wilson to the community of Camden, New Jersey should not go 
unrecognized. I express my deepest appreciation to these men for their 
dedication and unwavering loyalty to the Camden City Fire Department.

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