JFRD's oldest living firefighter passed away Friday September 11, 2015 at the nursing home in Penny Farms, FL. Paul lived in Keystone Heights Florida.
Paul joined the Jacksonville Fire Department twice, once on
January 1, 1953, serving until he resigned on August 1, 1954. It did not take
Paul long to find out he had made “a human error”. He rejoined the Fire
Department on December 12, 1954. Paul served the majority of his career in the
former Marine Division, first assigned to the Fire Boat Richard D. Sutton as a
Fire Fighter and later as a “Pump Engineer”. Like the modern “tiller” on a
Ladder Company, the Fire Boat Sutton, a converted Army rescue vessel, required 2
Engineers. The “Propulsion Engineer” powered the Fire Boat, while the “Pump
Engineer” was responsible for pumping the fire streams. He was promoted to
Lieutenant with the re-organization of the Marine Division into the Fire
Operations Division and assigned to Marine 3 at the foot of Washington Street.
Along his career, Paul served as the Curator of the Fire Museum when the
facility was rehabbed from the old Fire Department Shop and as Editor and
photographer of the Fire Department Year Book. Prior to Consolidation, “Chief
Galloway” was the Chief of the Craig Airport Volunteer Department. Paul was a
very talented actor, appearing in many local productions. Following his
retirement he continued his theatrical career in Jacksonville, also appearing in
New Orleans and many other cities. He may be best remembered as the “pirate” in
the Long John Silver Restaurant television commercials. Lieutenant Galloway
retired on January 2, 1976. Services are pending. May he rest in Peace.
Written by John Keane
This picture of Paul above is from the 1973 yearbook.
Picture below is from the JFRD 1962 Annual Report