Lethbridge Fire Chief Wilfred Lawrence Russell

History Biographical: Wilfred Lawrence Russell was born in Lethbridge on 22 October 1910 and attended city schools. A noted long distance runner, Mr. Russell set a Canadian record for the mile and a half in 1926 with a time of seven minutes, 36 and 2/5 seconds. His accomplishment came while competing in the Lethbridge Herald - YMCA Road Race. Mr. Russell competed in other provincial long distance races and won several prizes. Wilfred Russell joined the Lethbridge Fire Department on 24 October 1929 as a volunteer fire fighter. He also was a fire alarm operator and assistance second man on the ambulance. When a paid position became available, Mr. Russell was promoted to Probationary Fire Fighter, then to First Class Fire Fighter. In the 1930s, the process of rising from Probationary to First Class Fire Fighter took about three years. On 1 November Mr. Russell was promoted to Captain, and on 1 February 1962 became the Fire Chief. Chief Russell gained a reputation as a tight-fisted administrator with an authoritarian style. He was active in professional organizations, and in 1964 served as president of the Alberta Fire Chiefs' Association. Her also served as president of the Lethbridge branch of the St. John's Ambulance and First Aid Division. Wilfred Russell retired as Fire Chief on 20 August 1973. He died on 23 December 1991 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge.