Former Georgetown City Fire Chief Bill Anderson was laid to rest Monday, three days after he died of natural causes at the age of 81.
Anderson, who served as chief in the 1980s, worked at the City Fire Department from June 1, 1956 to Dec. 31, 1990.
According to current Assistant Fire Chief Bill Johnson, Anderson began his service when the main fire station was located on Front Street. By the mid 1980s his office was at Station 2 in Maryville.
“Chief Anderson was the assistant fire chief when I joined the department
in 1986. As a young firefighter I got a lot of direction from him. He encouraged me to become an instructor with the South Carolina Fire Academy which I did just after Hurricane Hugo. He was someone I looked to for great inspiration and his direction led me to eventually become assistant fire chief of the department,” Johnson said.
Anderson was promoted to chief when Chief Odell Avant retired and shortly thereafter he had to retire for personal medical reasons, Johnson said. Capt. Jim Sargent was then promoted to fire chief.
He was the first of three generations of Andersons who are or have been part of the City Fire Department. His son, Battalion Chief Mitch Anderson continues to serve. His grandson, Jimmy Anderson is a volunteer and another grandson, Mitch Anderson II has also been a fireman with the department.
Anderson’s funeral was held at Fireside Ministries on Highway 17 South where his son, Rev. Billy Anderson, is pastor.
His grandson, Mitch, said even after his grandfather retired he kept up with what was happening at the fire department.
“He listened to that police scanner every day of the week. When we asked him why he always listened to it, he would say ‘it’s in your blood,’ ” he said.
Rev. Anderson, who officiated the funeral for his dad, also talked about his father’s love for the fire department.
“It did not matter how he felt. When there were needs in the city, he would go,” he said.
Johnson said the department is saddened by Anderson’s passing “but we are all proud of his service to the citizens of Georgetown.”
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com