15. August Thomas “Gus” Schnepf (1922)
Served 1 Year
August (Gus) Schnepf was born at his home on Woodbury Road December 4, 1886, and is the son of Martin and Pauline (Kerbs) Schnepf.
He married Coralie Crawford in June of 1910, and they had a home at 7 Maple Street. They divorced in 1927. He married Beatrice Fletcher and moved to Hollywood, Florida in 1930. He was a self-employed contractor for many years.
In 1915 he was appointed a Truant Officer and Election Inspector for Oyster Bay. In 1917 he served as President of the Carpenters and Joiners Local Union 1771.
Gus joined Protection Hook and Ladder Co. 1 and served as their Captain in 1914. In 1913 Gus ran for 1st Assistant Chief but when the vote was tallied, Joseph A. Ofenloch received 25 and August Schnepf, 22.
In 1922, without serving as an Assistant Chief, Gus was elected the 15th Chief Officer of the Hicksville Fire Department. Gus’ brother Henry Schnepf was also a member of the Fire Department and served as the 14th Fire Chief, the year prior. During his term, George Schaaf and John Kerbs served as 1st and 2nd Assistant Chief.
There were no major fires or significant events noted during his term. Chief August “Gus” Schnepf passed away on June 28, 1952, and is interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery.
