In many regards certain phrases just sound like words, but every now and then they truly have a deeper meaning. My phrase today is "they don't make them like that anymore." Bob White fits that phrase like fireman's gear. When I joined the West Stockholm Volunteer Fire Dept.

I quickly learned from Bob the most important rule in fire service, safety. Get to the scene safely, get your gear on one hundred percent, check in with your safety officer or whomever was the incident commander, never go interior by yourself, know your limitations, and don't risk the lives of yourself and your fellow firefighter.

When it came to caring about his fellow firefighters, there was nobody better. He encouraged us to take the safety courses he knew would make us more helpful on scene. I'm sure many firefighters can attest to how many times a certain class they took with Bob's encouragement helped them in a car accident or a structure fire.

I now wonder how many on scene incidents would have gone bad without all the training he had preached, fortunately we didn't have to find out.

Bob committed tens of thousands of hours over his volunteer career just to make a difference in his community, now is the time for local emergency service agencies to continue the work he has done for over 40 years and allow his legacy to carry on.

For one of the best men I ever knew, he sure deserves it.

My love and prayers to Trudy and family.

Rest in eternal peace Chief Robert White

Jeff Prosper

West Stockholm Volunteer Fire Department honor roll member