General Information

Ocala Star Banner Editorial

This afternoon with appropriate ceremonies the State Fire College located on West Broadway, will be dedicated. Attending the ceremonies will be five members of the state cabinet, Commissioner of Agriculture Nathan Mayo, Secretary of State R. A. Gray, State Treasurer J. Edwin Larson, ex-officio state fire marshal, Comptroller Clarence Gay, Attorney General Richard Ervin and Superintendent of Schools Thomas D. Bailey.

Senate President Wallace E. Sturgis will act as master of ceremonies and Rep. C. Farris Bryant, speaker-designate of the 1953 House, will make the dedication address.

Ocala is always happy to have these state officials as our guests, and their coming here at this time for these dedicatory ceremonies is an indication of their interest in a project that has a state-wide significance which probably is not fully appreciated by the citizenship of the state.

It is just as important that the men who stand guard at our fire stations over the state, subject to immediate call to go out and wage a fight for the protection of the homes, business and industrial properties of our citizens, should be trained for their jobs as it is that an engineer, a teacher or a doctor should have a degree to practice his profession. A trained fireman is a more efficient fireman, and the purpose of the State Fire College is to provide training that will enable city firemen to learn the lessons that they must know to give the maximum of service in protecting the property of our citizens.

It is entirely proper that Senator Sturgis and Rep. Bryant should have prominent parts in today's dedicatory ceremonies, as it was largely through their efforts that the legislature was convinced that a State Fire College is an investment well worth its cost. As members of the legislature we will continue to look to Sturgis and Bryant to obtain additional appropriations to bring the fire college up to the maximum of its efficiency.

It is not out of place to note that H. D. Peebles, who served so long and faithfully on the city council, is due a large measure of credit for establishment of the State Fire College here. The fire college was "Duffy" Peebles pet project, and he had the satisfaction of seeing it firmly established before he retired from the city council.

As a recognition of the service he rendered in establishing the college, Fire Chief Tom Sexton was made a member of the board of trustees of the college, a position he is fully qualified to fill, as no one can question his interest in modern fire fighting methods.

Ocalans are proud of the State Fire College and can be depended upon to lend their every co-operation to its success and usefulness down through the years.

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