|
1998-1999 Inductees |
|
"Heroes are the people who do what has to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences."
"I was just doing my job"
The above words in blue describe heroes around the world. However, for those that have chosen to serve their communities as law enforcement officers and firefighters, the words you'll hear most often are the ones in italics. You won't find someone that has saved a life or changed a community through their efforts brag about it, or even talk about it in everyday conversation. They may quietly tell close family or friends what happened, but most often the stories become public knowledge from their co-workers, community, family and friends.
On these pages, you can read a bit more about the inductees of the State of Wisconsin Fire and Police Hall of Fame. These stories were not related by the person or persons themselves, but by those that live and serve with them. As you read through their stories, please remember the countless heroes that have not yet been recognized and may never be recognized publicly. For those that believe ALL of them should be recognized, remember that they need to be nominated by those that know the story, as they'd never nominate themselves. Again, the reason why is found in those six words.
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
Read their Stories
2000-2001 Inductees 2002-2004 Inductees 2005-2006 Inductees
Finlay Beaton Superior Police
Department 1919
Officer
Beaton was 48 years old when he interrupted a Sunday morning burglary, July 27,
1919. He was on foot patrol when he heard an explosion inside the Kinney Meat
Market. When he walked to the rear of the market, he was shot by a "lookout" at
the rear door. It is believed that it was 4 or 5 burglars who had broken into
the building and blew the store's safe with nitroglycerin. This still unsolved
murder left his wife Mary with two sons, Ronald (age 4) and Vincent (age 2).
For several weeks after the murder, Vincent was heard crying out for his
"Papa". Vincent's "Papa" was known for his kindness and generosity, not just to
his family and friends, but to everyone he came in contact with.
A fitting memorial was the dream of Officer Beaton's son
Vincent. In 1993, as a result of his lifetime dedication to the father that was
taken from him as a child, a granite memorial was dedicated in Superior's City
Hall to honor all of Superior's police officers that have been killed in the
line of duty. Vincent had vowed never to rest until such a memorial recognized
the commitment of his father. Just a short year later Vincent passed away and
joined his "Papa". A great concern of Vincent's was that an officer should
not have to die to be recognized for their work and that an appropriate place be
set aside to honor those that are the most deserving.
This weekend, a State Fire and Police Hall of Fame will be opened in
the City of Superior to do just that. Officer, Finlay Beaton, shall be the
first member of this "Hall of Fame". The "State of Wisconsin Fire and Police
Hall of Fame" is a fitting and ever-lasting tribute to a two-year old boy who
forever loved his "Papa".
Johnson.gif)
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
Leonard T. Rouse JR.
The night of February 2, 1979 tested the Superior Fire department to the fullest. When the first engine pulled up to the "Old Armory" apartment building, flames were coming out of several of the third floor windows. At least 22 of the apartments were occupied and it seemed as if no one was outside yet. Crews evacuated even climbed down the inside of a ladder from a third floor apartment to escape the heat and smoke.
A cry for help led Firefighter Leonard Rouse to the back of the apartment building where he got a boost up window on the second floor and climbed through the heat and blinding smoke to make a search of the apartment. He found the unconscious man and began to bring him over to the window.
Before firefighter
Rouse was able to complete his rescue he ran out of air and he was forced to
leave the apartment. As firefighter Rouse left, firefighter Mike Johnson entered
through the same window and with great effort was able to get the man outside to
awaiting help. The young man, Richard Senn, was taken to the hospital and
eventually recovered from his burns and smoke inhalation.
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
Jeff Keehan Manitowoc Fire Department 1995
On the night of May 12,
1995 while responding to a house fire, the responding crews were told that a
person was still inside the burning home. Firefighter Jeff Keehan risked his
own life to search the second floor for a young girl trapped by fire in her
home. Entry into the home by the main floor was impossible due to a large
amount of fire which had the stairway completely blocked. Firefighter Keehan
climbed a ladder to enter the second floor to search for the missing girl in an
area directly above the fire. Firefighter Keehan had to withstand extreme heat
and the danger of the floor collapsing below him. After finding the unconscious
girl, he carried her to the ladder and brought her outside. He then continued
to battle the blaze until it was brought under control. Tragically the young
girl was not able to survive the ordeal, but was given the best chance possible
by the selfless and courageous actions of Firefighter Keehan.
Richard Parquette Bayfield County Sheriff's department 1996
A 28-year veteran of law
enforcement, having served his last 17 years in Bayfield County, Corporal
Richard Parquette received his final call on Tuesday, September 17, 1996.
Corporal Parquette received a call for "vandalism", he immediately drove to the
scene of the complaint, then was led up a set of stairs by an unknowing girl. On
his way up the stairs, Corporal Parquette was shot 30 times. His murderer then
went back into his apartment and killed himself. No motive was ever discovered
for this brutal act. Corporal Parquette left behind a widow, Ms. R.L. Parquette,
two daughters, Tracey Brewer and Terri Smith and a stepson, Steven Prevost.
While there were no witnesses to the shooting, many believe he gave
his life protecting the young girl, whom was not physically injured in the
attack. His fellow officers all agreed that he would have repeated his actions,
even if he knew the outcome. Pictured at left is Richard's daughter, Tracey, who
was present at her father's induction.
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
Calvin Phillipps Oshkosh Fire Department 1948 to 1989
Chief Calvin Phillipps achieved
"Hall Of Fame" status through a lifetime of achievement in the fire service as
an educator. Chief Phillipps served 41 years with the Oshkosh Fire Department,
the last twelve as Chief, retiring in 1989. Chief Phillipps has
instructed thousands of firefighters on topics such as fire investigation, fire
science, arson investigation, officers training, and much more. Chief Phillipps
has also co-authored two textbooks titled "Investigating the Fireground".
His lifetime body of work, dedicated to educating his fellow firefighters, is
exemplary and has certainly opened the eyes of many of his students and fellow
workers. Chief Phillipps' dedication has provided firefighters from all over the
country with the tools and knowledge to make this extremely dangerous vocation
much safer and more efficient than firefighting has ever been in the past.
Robert Potter Superior Fire Department 1978
On two occasions, Firefighter Potter played a key role in rescuing babies
from their burning homes. The first event occurred November 1st, 1978 when his
crew responded to a house fire. They were the second crew to arrive and were
told that an eight-year old boy may still be in the house. Firefighter Potter
followed the first engines hoseline up the stairs and told that crew about the
boy, he then went into a bedroom and knowing not to completely rely on what
you're told did a very thorough search. This search included a crib where he found
a small baby. He brought eight-month old Jennifer to a window and handed
her to the safe arms of another firefighter on an awaiting ladder. Firefighter
Potter then went back to continue searching for the missing boy. While doing his
search he found a second crib, which also had a baby in it. He brought six-month
old Heather to the safety of the ladder and awaiting firefighters as well. The
missing boy was safe, having been found later at a neighbor's house.
Two years later, just before noon on Christmas Eve of 1980, Firefighter Potter's engine company responded to a house fire. They encountered a man and a young girl outside. There was smoke coming from the eaves of the house, and he was told that a baby was in a crib upstairs.
Neighbors had already tried to rescue the baby but were quickly pushed out by the heat and smoke. Firefighter Potter and his partner pulled a hoseline up the stairs to the landing below the second floor where they encountered heavy smoke. Just as he was about to get his air mask on, Firefighter Potter heard a baby's cry from somewhere upstairs. Knowing that time was quickly running out, he left his hose line, did not put on his mask and followed the baby's cries through the blinding smoke. He found five month old Dominique and carried her downstairs and then outside where she was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where she fully recovered from her injuries.
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
1999 Inductees
Tom Champaigne & Richard Klugow
Superior Police Department
On April 29, 1990, Officer Rick Klugow
and three other officers were dispatched to a call in central Superior. They
were told a man was walking around claiming to be "cop hunting". Officer Klugow
spotted
the suspect and called for Sgt. Tom Champaigne. Having seen the suspect
wielding a knife it was decided that they would enter the home the suspect had
gone into and arrest him. The officers knocked on the suspect's door. Suddenly
the door burst open and the suspect was facing them holding a butcher
knife. Efforts to get the suspect to surrender the weapon failed and the man
charged the officers. During the struggle, officers Champaigne and Klugow were
both stabbed several times. The man was eventually subdued by the five police
officers and arrested. The butcher knife was left imbedded in Officer
Champaigne's leg. During the struggle, the officers fought for their lives.
While there were five officers involved, two were forced to accept severe and
painful injuries so that the others would not, and most probably saved lives,
including the life of the suspect.
The suspect was arrested, but the damage had been done. The injury ultimately ended the career of one of the finest community conscious officers the City of Superior has ever known. Sergeant Champaigne left a legacy to generations of children through his work in the Police Liaison Bureau. Officer Klugow's physical injuries mended well enough to be able to return to work. He has since been appointed to a huge number of special duties, including detective, ballistics officer, and eventually Sergeant. Those who know Rick know him as someone who "never quits" and welcomes a challenge with tremendous desire. In the words of one fellow officer, "Rick never found any hill too tall to climb...it didn't surprise me at all that he came back and accomplished even more after the setback". Tom Champaigne, upper photo, Richard Klugow, lower photo.
Dennis Edwards Sr. Superior Fire Department 1975
Firefighter Dennis Edwards Sr. is inducted into the Hall of Fame for his part in the rescue of Susan Wicklund and her children Timothy, 7, Robert, 4 and Daniel, 3. On December 12, 1975 the Superior Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire. Neighbors attempted to rescue the family but were pushed back by the smoke and heat. Firefighter Edwards was on Engine 2, which was the first engine on the scene, and made the initial attack and rescues. As Engine 2 members, Captain Aker and Firefighter Johnson, attacked the fire and searched for family members downstairs, Firefighter Edwards saw Mrs. Wicklund in an upstairs window.
He laddered the building to rescue her. Arriving at the window he found Mrs.Wicklund had collapsed from the smoke and heat and he also discovered she had a child in each arm. Firefighter Edwards separated the children from Mrs. Wicklund and then carried her down the ladder. After rescuing Mrs. Wicklund, firefighter Edwards went back to the ladder and on two more trips rescued the other two children. It had been discovered that there should be a third child, so Firefighter Edwards made a fourth trip up the ladder and found Captain Kildahl making a search of the room.
Firefighter Edwards saw another little figure in the room and directed Captain Kildahl to it, this was the third child! Captain Kildahl brought the boy over to Firefighter Edwards who then carried him down the ladder to safety. All four family members were unconscious and carried down from the same second story window by Firefighter Edwards. On scene firefighters and Douglas County Ambulance personnel gave artificial respiration to the family. The Wicklunds were then transported to Miller Dwan Hospital and treated for severe burns and smoke inhalation, but all survived this terrible ordeal. The photo at left shows Dennis Edwards Sr. (Right), and his son, Dennis Edwards Jr., also a firefighter.
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
Eugene Gutsch
On August
28, 1993, Deputy Eugene Gutsch responded to a call on North Street in Cornell.
Dispatch reported that a man was threatening to kill his two children, ages two
and four. When Deputy Gutsch
arrived, he could see the suspect on his front steps holding a knife to the
throat of his two year-old son.
The suspect screamed at deputy Gutsch and the other officers that he would kill the child unless he was able to speak with his wife and the police leave the area. Attempts at negotiations only agitated the suspect. Finally, officers convinced the suspect to release his two year-old son, but he then placed his knife to the throat of his four year old daughter. When the suspect began poking the girl’s neck with the blade, officers drew their weapons and demanded that he release the girl. The suspect then retreated into a bedroom with the girl and closed the door.
The wife of the suspect was now brought in to assist with negotiations. As the two talked through the door, officers could hear the little girl screaming and crying. The suspect then moved back into the hallway to talk more directly with his estranged wife. Deputy Gutsch, seeing that the suspect was being distracted by his glasses sliding down his face while his little girl was struggling in his arms and crying to use the bathroom, took the opportunity to strike the suspects hands hard enough to disarm him. The ensuing struggle resulted in the arrest of the suspect. The children were returned safely to their mother. There is little doubt that the actions of Deputy Gutsch and his fellow officers saved the lives of these two children that August day.
Kim Nessel, Wayne Klett,
& David Okas
Eau Claire Fire Department
January 23, 1995 the Eau Claire Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire on 1st Avenue. Lieutenant Kim Nessel, Firefighter David Okas and Firefighter Wayne Klett of Engine 2 arrived first to the scene. Fire and smoke were clearly visible in the four unit, two-story, apartment building. A woman met Lt. Nessel at the sidewalk and told him that her 1 year-old baby was trapped in a first floor bedroom and could only be gotten to by the back door. Trying to get in the back of the building, Lt. Nessel was met with heavy fire and smoke making it impossible to advance. The crew then positioned in front of the building and made forcible entry through the front door.
Lt. Nessel made a search of a first floor bedroom and found the
baby in his crib. With the ceiling falling down upon them and the temperature
rising, Lt. Nessel found the doors had closed, trapping him and the baby in the
bedroom. Firefighters Okas and Klett quickly assisted in the rescue by forcing
the doors back open and directing Lt. Nessel and the baby out of the room. At
the moment that the crew and baby exited the room much of the first floor
flashed over and engulfed them. The crew spilled out onto the front porch,
their turn-out clothing was smoking and their face shields blackened from the
heat.
Baby Nicholas was being held and protected by Lt. Nessel, who handed him over to
Engineer Bill Klee who performed CPR on the baby until the Rescue Company could
take over and transport him to the hospital.
After reassembling, the Engine 2 crew reentered the building to continue the
search for other possible victims. No one else was in the building. Sadly,
little Nicholas Adank later passed away, but he had been
given the greatest chance of living because of the heroic efforts
of Firefighters Nessel, Okas and Klett.
Click on any name to return to the Inductees page and Home
Bert Revels
Bert Revels started as a patrolman with the Milwaukee Police Department on November 30, 1959. While on patrol on Christmas evening, 1965, Officer Revels observed a man standing on the steps of a local tavern. The man held a threatening shotgun in his hands. Officer Revels reacted by drawing his service revolver and ordering the man to drop his weapon. Instead of surrendering the man opened fire and shot Officer Revels, forty-two shotgun pellets penetrating his body. Officer Revels lay wounded in the street as the menacing gunman approached him. Although being in position to return fire on the gunman, Officer Revels held back due to several spectators being in the line of fire. When all of the innocent citizens were safely out of the way, Officer Revels returned fire and fatally wounded the gunman.
Witnesses to the incident said that Officer Revels saved countless lives while he lay bleeding in the street, refusing to shoot, while people were in harms way that Christmas night. Bert Revels took leave from police work in the mid 60’s. He missed police work and was hired once again as a police officer, this time with the Madison Police Department in 1977. In the words of fellow officer Timothy Hahn, “Bert still ran on calls at the age of 61...He was in better physical shape then most guys in their 20’s. I’d go through any door with him as my backup.” Sergeant Bert Revels recently retired from the Madison Police Department at the age of 61.
All of these people were nominated by their peers, family, or other citizens for
extraordinary acts of bravery, lifetime achievements in their field, or
exceptional service to their community.
We know there are others deserving of this honor.
David Johnson
c/o Superior Fire Department
3326 Tower Avenue
Superior, WI 54880
715-394-0227
2000-2001 Inductees 2002-2004 Inductees 2005-2006 Inductees
