19. Henry Anthony Gebhardt (1926-1929)
Served 4 Years
Henry Gebhardt was born on October 10, 1890, and is the son of John and Emma (Schuckmann) Gebhardt. Henry married Marion Anna Tinmann in August of 1913. He was employed by the Hicksville Fire District, where he lived on the third floor of the fire house on East Marie Street.
Henry joined Protection Hook and Ladder Company 1 in 1911 and served as their Captain in 1923 and later as their Treasurer from 1937 through 1960. After retirement he lived on Notre Dame Avenue.
Not since Andrew Heberer has anyone served longer than two consecutive years, when Henry was elected Served 4 Years in 1928 and 1929. Chief Heberer was appointed by the Board of Commissioners, but Henry was “elected” by his peers in 1926 and remained there through 1929. His Assistant Chiefs were Walter Dano and Jacob Karman.
During Chief Gebhardt’s term he oversaw the creation of the fifth fire Company. It was on September 14, 1928, a meeting was called to order at the office of Lebkucker and Duffy when Oscar B. Berry was appointed by Chief Gebhardt to act as chairman. The meeting was called for organizing Emergency Company Five of the Hicksville Fire Department. When the first roll call was taken, it was under the direction of Chief Henry Gebhardt, and Board of Fire Commissioner Chairman William Braun. Mr. William Cisler acted as Secretary and the following organizers were found to be present: Anthony Adessio, Harry Borley, Joseph Braun, Robert Cisler, William Cisler, Louis Hartmeier, Valentine Kerbs, George Kunz, Edmund Neder, Henry Purnhagen, and Calvin Van Winkler.
A notable fire during Chief Gebhardt’s term was soon after that first meeting of Company 5, when he led members to 3 fires within 30 minutes. The first call took them to Bay Avenue where there was a good size fire that was approaching the residence of George Blyman. As they were returning from this alarm, a second call took them to Field Avenue to the home of Justice Charles Stoll. The grass fire threatened the garage, but firemen were able to douse the flames. Just as they were backing into the firehouse, a recall was sounded for Bay Avenue, where the grass rekindled and menaced the Breslin Lumberyard. Chief Gebhardt was able to keep the damage to a minimum.
On June 19, 1929, while responding to a grass fire around upper Broadway, two fire trucks had a rear-end collision. While traveling on Broadway, a private car entered off a side street and cut off the responding trucks. The Chemical Wagon was forced to apply its brake suddenly when the 2nd truck could not stop in time. Several firemen were thrown from the truck but did not sustain any injuries.
Two firemen were injured on November 14, 1929, when a fire started in a cellar of the tire store of Sam Kellner on Herzog Place. The blaze caused over $50,000 in damage to the tire store and Rohrback’s Glass store located adjacent to the fire. Jacob Kellner, father of the owner was asleep in the upstairs apartment when the fire broke out and he was treated for smoke inhalation. Two firemen, Charles Schaefer and Charles Ambron were also overcome by some smoke and heat and were treated at the scene.
Henry would be the 1st Chief to have a sign with the lettering “Chief” made for his private vehicle to help him get through traffic when responding to alarms. The fire commissioners would end up procuring signs for his assistant chiefs as well. The signs were so well received that the Board ended up purchasing plates for all officers by year-end 1929.
Henry’s son also joined the Fire Department in Volunteer Hose Company 4. He was killed on June 15, 1944, during the first battle of Saipan. Henry Jr. was a Seabee in the United States Navy during World War II. Word was received that on D-Day in Saipan, Henry Jr. ran into a Japanese patrol and threw hand grenades. His patrol wiped them out, but three men were wounded. Henry Jr. was hit badly in the leg. He was given aid and plasma. He was put aboard a boat to return him to the ship but died on his way out. Henry was returned to Saipan Island and buried with the rest of the heroes of the 4th Marine Division. A few years later he was returned to the United States and buried at the Greenfield Cemetery at Hempstead and awarded the Silver Star Posthumously.
Henry was an active participant of the Hicksville FD Labor Day Parade and Tournament Committee, where he served as Chairman in 1932 and 1933. In addition, he served as a Judge and member of the Nassau County Drill Team Association for many years. He was a Charter Member of Volunteer and Exempts Firemen’s Benevolent Association of Hicksville and Past President 1945-1946. From 1926 to 1957, he was a New York State Fire Warden. Chief Gebhardt was president of the Nassau County Firemen’s Association and the Saint George Association of the Firemen of Nassau County. He was a member of the Nassau County Fire Chiefs Association, the State Firemen’s Association (FASNY), and the Southern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
For a time, Chief Gebhardt lived on the 3rd floor of the Fire House on East Marie Street and held the duties of emergency dispatcher and firehouse man. On October 22, 1977, the portion of East Marie Street between Broadway and the LIRR was re-named in honor of the late Hicksville ex-chief Henry Gebhardt. It is the first time a street in Nassau County was named in honor of a person-a volunteer of any type. TOB Supervisor Joseph Colby presented the family of Henry A. Gebhardt a proclamation to proclaim October 22, 1977, Henry A. Gebhardt Day. The proclamation stated “Hicksville will forever be the beneficiaries of the skills he directed to assure our residents a conscientious and vigilant volunteer Fire Department. It was a day that was dedicated in respect for a man whose esteem shall stand forever as his own living memorial. Ex-Chief Owen Magee said “Into every lifetime, at least once, a man appears whom you not only respect, admire and revere, but honor as a person of integrity and as someone you really relate to. Normally this is a national hero, an athlete, or a star of major magnitude. Seldom do you find such a man in a comparatively small group that is so honored by all who know him. That is the case, however, in the Hicksville Fire Department. Henry Gebhardt, Ex-Captain, Ex-Chief, Counselor, Advisor, Confessor, Confidant and Friend is just such a man. "Gebby", as he is affectionately known, does not simply belong to one HFD Company, but to the whole of the Department and has become a legend in his own time. In the image of Don Quixote, Walter Raleigh, The Lone Ranger, and the U.S. Calvary of old, "Gebby' is always there when you need him most, inspiring, directing, giving you the benefit of not only his firematic experience but his personal contact with life itself.”
"Gebby” was seen as a guide and mentor to members of HFD for all of his long 66 years of service. Just how many members have joined, served twenty or more years, retired, some having answered their final alarm, and some yet to come, all under the tenure of Henry Gebhardt is difficult to determine, but all have benefited in knowing this man. He had imported his knowledge, advice, and experience to all who have sought his counsel.
"Gebby” has fostered, fathered, aided, and given support to so many firematic organizations. It is impossible to list them all. Because of his dedication and dedicated service, he had become a well-known member in the Nassau County and Statewide fire service.
His sons-in-law were Vincent Braun and Charles Sauer, both former Chiefs. Chief Gebhardt passed away on April 11, 1977, and is interred at Greenfield Cemetery.
Ex Chief Gebhardt leading a Division at a Labor Day Parade at the Mid Island Plaza 
The East Marie Street Dedication in 1976 shows Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Saladino, Marion Braun, Ruth (Gebhardt) Saurer, Town Supervisor Colby and Chief Roy Schaaf
Ex Chief Gebhardt receiving an award for his years of service with Ex Chief Schnepf, flanked by Ex Chief Weiss and Ex Chief Ofenloch at the Mid Island Plaza
