44. Clifford Gerard Davis (1968-1970)
Served 2 Years
Clifford Davis was born June 11, 1924, in Hicksville and was the son of Fred and Mary (Keller) Davis and he lived on East John Street. He married Mildred Knausman in 1946 and worked for his dad at Fred Davis Plumbing and Heating.
Cliff was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Navy with the "Seabees". Success in World War II hinged on the ability of the military to quickly complete ambitious construction projects under dangerous conditions, so the U.S. Navy established the military’s first Naval Construction Battalions under the direction of officers from the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps. Cliff stepped up with his experience in construction.
Cliff joined the department in September of 1948 as a member of Volunteer Hose Company 4 and in just three short years he was elected as 2nd Lieutenant of Company 4. He was elected as 2nd Lieutenant in 1951-1952 and 1st Lieutenant in 1953-1954. In 1955 and 1956, Cliff was elected as the 47th Captain of Volunteer Hose Company 4.
After his departure in 1956, Cliff’s duties weren’t yet to be fulfilled as the newly chartered Engine Company 7 was organized in April of 1957 and Cliff was appointed to serve as their interim Captain to get things going. Cliff served this position well until he turned over the reins to the newly elected Captain in August of the same year; however, Cliff remained as an Honorary and Charter member of Engine Company 7.
Cliff would announce his candidacy for the position of 3rd Assistant Chief in early 1962 and would be elected to that position. Cliff moved through the ranks serving as a 2nd Assistant Chief in 1964 and 1966 and as 1st Assistant Chief in 1966-1968, before being elected as the 44th Fire Chief of Department in 1968 through 1970. During his term, Cliff had the honor of serving the department during its observance of the 100th Anniversary of the creation of fire protection to the Hicksville Community, in 1968.
Cliff was a member of the Volunteer and Exempts Firemen’s Benevolent Association of Hicksville. He served as a Company 4 Trustee for many years and served as their President in 1962 and 1963.
Cliff continued his illustrious career as he bid for the position of Fire Commissioner of the Hicksville Fire District in 1972 and began what would be a great tenure, not to be duplicated to date. Cliff served a very distinguished career spanning over 25 years until his retirement from the Board in 1997. During that time Cliff served as Chairman of the Board on six separate occasions in 1976, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996.
Cliff also served as a representative to many outside firematic organizations, such as Southern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association, of which he served as its President. He was a member of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), and the South Shore Firemen’s Association, which he also held a term as President. Cliff served as a 9th Battalion Delegate and was Chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission. Cliff was also a very active member for the New York City Burn Center. He served on the Nassau County Executive Council as Second Vice President and represented that Council as a Director from Nassau County on the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, which was set up to provide better care for burn victims.
In 1993 while the Department was celebrating its 100th Anniversary, they also hosted the Annual Southern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association and Cliff served as Co- Chairman with ex-Chief John Specht.
In June of 1996, Cliff was again recognized, this time by his fellow peers on the Board of Fire Commissioners, when they dedicated the newly renovated Fire District Maintenance Facility, which bears his name the “Clifford G. Davis” Maintenance Facility, located on Strong Street.
Throughout Davis’s career he was often cited for his tireless dedication and efforts. In 1971 he was selected by his peers as "Fireman of the Year." Davis was named the Honorary Grand Marshal for the 1979 Labor Day Parade and Drill and almost 20 years later was an Honorary Grand Marshal for the Hicksville Community's 350th Anniversary parade and celebration.
During his term as Chief, on November 30th a fire broke out on the 4th floor of the Parkway Office Building located at 550 Old Country Road. The fire was discovered by a passing patrolman and seemed to have been smoldering for a while. Damage was estimated at $150,000.
A Fire at the Holy Family Church on July 24 damaged the entrance and organ loft of the Church. The department was able to confine the blaze to the area involved with smoke damage throughout.
A serious fire was controlled by the department on October 9th when a burning fuel oil truck was discovered in the garage of Bob-Ken Ford on Bethpage Road. Prompt action kept the fire confined to the area adjacent to the truck itself and one mechanic was burned.
On February 28, 1969, a new 85-foot aerial tower with 1,000 GPM pump was built and delivered by Sutphen Corp of Ohio. It replaced the fourteen-year-old Seagrave ladder truck. It is the 2nd of its kind on the East Coast, and it supplies its own electric power and can carry three men in its bucket on the end of the ladder. The bucket was equipped with breathing air for the men plus two. It had a five hundred per gallon a minute nozzle direct from the pump. It had several hundred feet of portable ladders mounted on its sides for lower work and for roof ventilation.
On October 27, 1969, the department responded to a fire at the Gustave Fielitz Body Shop on East Barclay Street. Some damage occurred when the fire swept across the ceiling of the shop.
It would be the first time that Company Equipment Numbers were issued to each member to ensure turnout gear is individually assigned and tracked. Bocce ball came to the department in October of 1969, when the new court was completed behind the Strong Street fire station, known as “Pollina Park”, named after Ex-Captain Joe Pollina, Company 3.
Cliff had an interest in the “Hicks” Drill Team right away and was a member of the amazing racing team of the late forties and early fifties. Cliff was a member of the “Hicks” when they captured 49 trophies in 1949 and won the Southern New York Drill in the same year.
Cliff has served on many committees of the Department, including the Welfare Committee, where he has served since the early fifties. He also was the Department's Delegate to the Ninth Battalion where he rose to the position of Chairman. He served on the Board of the Nassau County Fire Commission and Chairman of that Commission from 1977-1978.
In January of 1969, Chief Davis was saddened to learn of the passing of Ex-Chief and Ex-Commissioner William Braun of Volunteer Hose Company 4. Only 10 months later in October, William’s son Vincent Braun passed away. Vincent was also a Fire Chief and Fire Commissioner over his tenure in the department. A few weeks earlier, Ex-Chief George Kunz passed away on September 3.
Chief Davis passed away June 25, 1999, and is interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery.
Chief Davis is seen at two fires above. He is also seen talking with Lieutenant Dick Ritter from Company 2 at a house fire.
