[ Home ] [ Donations To Box 22 ] [ History ] [ Stations ] [ Apparatus ] [ Firefighters Memorial ] [ Pictures and Video ] [ Engine 15 Restoration ] [ History Book ] [ Chief John Smith ] [ B.C. Robert King ]

BATTALION CHIEF ROBERT E. KING, NHFD (ret.)

Nov. 23, 1927 – July 14, 2004

It is with deep regret that we report the death of retired B.C. Robert E. King, a 42 year veteran of the NHFD and loyal member of Box 22 Associates. Bob passed away at The Conn. Hospice, Branford on July 14^th. He was buried from his beloved St. Bernadette’s Church in Morris Cove on July 19^th with full departmental honors.

Bob was the second of 3 generations of the King family to serve in the NHFD. His father, John B. King, was a captain. His son, Tom, recently retired after 27 years of service, the majority of that served at Dixwell Station.

As a boy, Bob King used to chase fires on his bicycle, despite his father’s urgings to stay away. But Bob had a siren mounted on his bike and would peddle after the fire engines at top speed to the fire. Once, when he followed a different route than the engine, his siren attracted the attention of the Battalion Chief, who was trying to find the fire. The chief  became a little annoyed when he realized he was following a boy on a bike, but, recognizing Bob, inquired “Which way did your father go?”

Bob was sworn in on Jan. 1, 1951 in ceremonies at the old Training School on Hamilton St.  His class, one of the largest ever in the history of the department with 50 members, was destined to produce many outstanding fire officers.

Bob served as a pump driver on Engine 3, pumping the spectacular Shoninger factory fire on Chapel & Chestnut in 1960. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1968 and was transferred to Engine 9, where he initiated the often imitated, never duplicated Saturday “Steak Nite”. When he made captain in 1978, he moved across the City to Engine 10. But his proudest title aside from Grandpa was Battalion Chief, a rank he attained in 1982. He was the Acting Deputy on the Third Division when he toppled off a loading dock, and was seriously injured, fighting a Two Alarm Fire at Long Wharf Terminal in 1993. That proved to be his last fire.

Chief King was a loyal member of Box 22 and was an avid history buff. He made several valuable contributions to our book project before he died. Bob was named the Exchange Club “Firefighter of the Year” in 1971. That program was the forerunner to our Box 22 Firefighter of the Year Award, but we always recognized Bob as on of our own. Rest in Peace, Good Friend!