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On February 17, 2000, a representative group of people met with the Colorado Springs Fire Chief for the purpose of creating a formal organization to support the efforts in creating a Fire Museum in Colorado Springs.
This committee met continually each week to establish the framework for a "Friends" organization to support the Fire Museum.
The committee members (in alphabetical order):
Sallie Clark, Former City Council Member
Katie Gardner, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Cristi Gower, Pikes Peak Fire Fighters Association
Gordon Gray, Old Colorado City Historical Society (OCCHS)
Donald Fooshee, Association of Retired Fire Fighters
Richard Haugen, Director, IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial
Leland Kinney, Association of Retired Fire Fighters
John Langley, Colorado Springs Fire Department Photographer
Julie Lilly, Office of the Colorado Springs Fire Department Chief
Neil Luehring, Fire Fighters Protective Association
Manuel Navarro, Colorado Springs Fire Department Chief
Randy Royal, Colorado Springs Fire Department
Dave Ryan, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Ray Turner, Association of Retired Fire Fighters
Jeff Williams (Dr. Williams son)
Leah Davis Witherow, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
The committee is currently registered as a nonprofit tax exempt 501 (c) (3) organization. The name of this corporation is the "Friends of the Dr. Lester L. Williams Fire Museum"
The Colorado Springs Fire Department has a significant collection of fire fighting items and memorabilia which was the collection of Dr. Lester L. Williams. This collection was given to the Fire Department by Dr. Williams and included in the artifacts is a significant collection of books and photo albums. The committee created a subcommittee which accessions artifacts for the museum collection. They have been identifying each item, assigning a collection number, and placing a value on each item. When completed, a data base will be created that will identify the entire collection.
In October of 2001, the new Lester L. Williams Fire Department Complex was dedicated, housing the museum collection. Located at375 Printers Parkway, the artifacts are displayed for self-guided tours. The museum displays representative pictures, items and apparatus from the collection. The display is focused on the legacy of Dr. Williams, his life in Colorado Springs and his significant role in the Fire Department.
The committee welcomes the participation of anyone who has an interest in fire memorabilia and a desire to preserve history for future generations to enjoy. Support our efforts through volunteering and offering financial support.
A Message from: Fire Chief Manuel Navarro..................
.......The past is gone, the future yet unseen. Marcus Arelius
The Colorado Springs Fire Department is over 100 years old; our department has a rich history steeped in. Now we have an opportunity; or more properly, we have an obligation to preserve that history and those relics of our past. It is generally held that if we, as caring individuals, do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. More optimistically, we can learn a great deal about ourselves and about our organization by preserving and studying our history. "Doc Williams" (Dr. Lester L. Williams) has left us a priceless legacy of artifacts and literature, and we have a duty to preserve that legacy for future generations of firefighters and the citizens of Colorado Springs. I invite you to join us in preserving that history and tradition.
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