Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-01
T00kER STARTS
as FIRE CHIEF
George Nixon Turns Over
Keys of Office to New Head
Banquet at McCIellanS.

George Nixon, chief of the Fire
Department since June /, 1920, and
a mem ber of the Mcclellan Engine
Company, turned over the keys of
Office to the new head of the Perth
Amboy Fire Department, Harry Too
ker, of the Lincoln Engine Company,
at midnight last night. Tooker was
elected chief of the department with
ont opposition, at the annual election
held on May 10, and Andrew Ander-
son of the Garfield Company, was
elected first assistant chief. without
opposition. John Campbell of the
Washington company. as a result of
the election of May 10, stepped into
the position of second assistant chief,
left vacant by the promotion of An
derson. Campbell defeated three
opponents at the recent election.
Peter Larson. Rudolph Schuck and
William Langan.
George Nixon, the retiring chief.
has record ranking with the best.
made by any head of the Perth AM
boy Fire Department. Ninety-two
alarms of fire were answered by the
department during his reign. and
among this number were the great
Barber Asphalt conflagration, the
Ruderman junk yard fire, State
street apartment blaze. Jacobsen
market blaze and numerous others.
which for time threatened to de-
stroy considerable property in the
city but due to the quick work of
the men under the leadership of
Chief Nixon, were rapidly extinguish-
ed. The life of Chief Nixon was saw
ed due to the efforts of Officers
Frank Tonghini and William Peter
son. in a burning building on Hall
avenue, during the morning of July
l. the fire chief having been over
come with smoke.
The new chief and assistants have
been hard workers for the good of
the department, since becoming
members. Eighty eight alarms were
answered by Chief Ford last year.
Ex-Chief Frank Tooker holds a rec
ord for a year, having answered one
hundred and twenty alarms during
his term.
Testimonial Dinner.
George Nixon, the retiring chief
was given a testimonial dinner by
the members of the Mcclellan En-
gine company, his own company. at
their house on State street last
night. Good eats, number of not
able speakers, singing and dancing.
completed the evenings s program ar
ranged by the committee in charge
of this affair, headed by Frank
Tooker. ex-chief of the department,
and former president of the Nc
Clellan company.
The retiring chief was presented
with a gold eX-chief's badge. by
Mayor William c. Wilson, a gift of
the city. after the mayor had COM
pleted his address, in which he
praised the work of Chief Nixon.
and the sixteen other ex-chiefs he
has been acquainted with in his time.
The executive praised the fire de-
partme and stated that he is ready
to do anything in his power to fur
ther the interests of the depart tment.
The MAYOR stated, although a paid
fire department is the thing. it will
never happen in my time if | can
help it.
Joseph Maloney. president of the
Mcclellan company. was toastmas-
ter at this affair. After the mem
bers OF the company and guests had
finished eating. the toastmaster told
those assembled the purpose 5of the
dinner was to honor member
of the company who was retiring as
chief of the department. The toast
master tOlu OIL IHe HollOI III liOidIii9
the position at the head of a fire de-
partment in city of this size, and
stated further that Chief Nixon
stood out above all former chiefs
this city has ever had.
The toastmaster told of the nu-
merous good things the retiring
chief had put across for the city
and the citizens during his term of
office, one of the most notable was
the order issued to the moving pic
ture houses requesting them to flash
a sign on the screen at the begin
ming of every show telling the people
where the exits are. and to inform
them to take care in leaving the
theatre in case of a fire or for any
other reason. Maloney welcomed all
in attendance and in closing he spoke
a word for the paid fire department.
He then introduced the mayor who
made a short address and then pre-
sented the badge to the retiring
chief.
Continued on page 50