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Show C. R. Clark Presented Pin For Fifty Years of Service by Jack Hill It was 1913 when C.R. Clark, lured by an invitation to play basketball, joined the Pleasant Grove Fire Department. That was the year after af-ter he had played on the high school county championship basketball basket-ball team with A. P. Warnick and Wallace West. Recently, Clark received his 50 year service pin and certificate cer-tificate as a member of the state Firemens Association. Presenting Presen-ting the pin, one of only five in the state this year, was Grant Walker, State Fire Marshall. Pleasant Grove joined the State Firemens Association in 1928, an organization that today has 66 fire departments and 2700 members. Counting the 15 years as a fireman before the P.G. department depar-tment joined the state association, Clark has logged 65 years with the local firefighters. When the mathematics of his service ser-vice finally registered with me, I asked Mr. Clark, my voice betraying my astonishment, "how old are you?" "To darn old" was his quick reply. He later told me that he was born before Utah became a state, back in 1895, in the house on Main Street that today is between Rassmussen Heating and Gary's Ideal Market. Since suffering a stroke several years ago, Mr. Clark had been confined to a wheel chair but still gets out and works in the yard at his present home at 135 West Center. He and his wife, Rhoda, lay claim to being the oldest married couple in Pleasant Grove. They have been married for 65 years. When Clark joined the local firefighters in 1913, the same year he and Rhoda were married, fire department depar-tment equipment consisted con-sisted of a "pull cart" (see photo this page) and some hose. About 1915 the Jacob home across the street for the old high school on 200 South caught fire and Clark along with other firemen were hampered in their efforts to douse the blaze by a "very leaky hose." "This spurred the town people and we got a new hose, " said Clark. Later, in the early 20's, P.G. purchased pur-chased a four cylinder fire truck called the "Transport." Reminising about his high school basketball day's, Clark recalled his freshmen year when he scored 30 of 36 points in a game agaist Spanish Fork. "In those days, one player did all the foul pitching and I made 12 of 15 foul pitches and nine field goals," stated the 83 year old former firefighter and basketball star. Pleasant Grove's fire department currently curren-tly has 24 members headed by Chief Fred Keetch and three active trucks with the old 1930 engine used only for parades and other special occasions. According to State Fire Marshal Walker, Pleasant Grove today has a "class six rating" which is "good, very good for a volunteer fire department." Congratulations to C.R. Clark on being an early member of this efficent organization. 50 YEAR SERVICE PIN Grant Walker, state fire Marshall and Fred Keetch, P.G. Fire Chief contratulate C. R. Clark on getting his 50 year service pin and certificate from State Fireman's Association. Kfeh FIREMEN OF EARLY 1 900' s Grouped around 'Pull Cart' are Chief Cy Kemp (front right), 1st row, Chris Williamson, Owen Christensen, Raymond Wilson and Dewayne Stewart. Back Hilding Nielson, Hans Williamson, Joe Walker, Ole Christiansen, Burt Adams, Toney Hecker. |