Jack Brown and Ben Alexander before they were Chiefs.

Left, 2005 - Retired Chief Ben Alexander, sitting Chief Oscar Presley, retired Chief Jack Brown. Right - 2008 retired Chief Jack Brown, retired Chief Oscar Presley, and sitting Chief Don Shoevlin.

 

A memorial for Jack was held on May 22, 2010. <<< Click for pictures

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Jack Brown

April 16, 1929 - March 10, 2010

Jack joined the department on August 23, 1953 and served 30 years, climbing the ranks to Chief. He served 18 years as Assistant Chief and became Chief in 1981 when Chief Ben Alexander retired. He resigned as Chief in 1982 after serving less than a year due to other commitments. He still served a couple more years before retiring from the department in February 1984.

Jack was active in the medical field. He started with Advanced First Aid. He then became an EMT and was in the second class of Paramedics in Winnebago County. He was instrumental in getting Roscoe & Rockton certified with the Civil Defense, as well as acquiring the first radio and radio tower for the department. He also served three years as a fire inspector. Jack was active in the Winnebago Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and served three years on the board. He helped with acquiring rescue equipment for the department and was always involved with public events such as the Coon & Ham Dinner.

Jack’s wife Jeanne was active in the women’s auxiliary and his son Ernie also served on the department on and off for 10 years. Jack has four children - Jan, Earnie, JoEva, & Eddie. Jack served a stint in the Navy and worked at the Beloit Corporation.