Chief Paul Wilcox Battled Fire and Cancer
Chief Paul M. Wilcox, 66, a lifetime resident of Almont, passed away Thursday, January 8, 2009 at Lapeer Regional Medical Center. He was born March 13, 1942 in Almont, the son of Reid and Thelma (Green) Wilcox. He graduated from Almont High School in 1960. He was a member of the Almont Fire Department for 44 years starting as secretary and moving up to assistant chief before becoming fire chief in 1986. Mr. Wilcox was a builder and a state certified building inspector.
Paul was very active in fire service. On the local level he was past chairman for the Lapeer County Fireman’s Association, a member of Lapeer County Fire Instructor’s Association, served on the 911 committee, and was the Almont Twp. representative for Lapeer Co. EMS. On the state level he was a previous President of Michigan State Fireman’s Association, joint council representative for Michigan State Fireman’s Association, state representative to the coalition, a member of the Arson Prevention Committee, member of Southeastern Michigan Fire Chief’s Association, State of Michigan Fire Chief’s Association, and a member of Fire Safe Foundation. On the national level Chief Wilcox served as the Michigan state representative and member of the board for the National Volunteer Fire Council, was a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the International Fire Arson Investigator’s Association.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 3-8 pm and Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 1-8 pm at Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Almont. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 12, 2009 at 3:30 pm at the Almont Middle School, 4624 Kidder Road, Almont. Burial will be made in Ferguson Cemetery in Almont. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michigan State Fireman’s Memorial Fund in Roscommon, c/o Almont Twp. Fire Department P.O. Box 159, Almont, MI 48003. To share your thoughts with family and friends, visit www.MuirBrothers.com for an online guest book.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I had the pleasure of working with Paul on a couple committees and even out at DC last year during CFSI. Paul was truly respected around the state and nationally. What a good friend to our fire service and he will be missed
Mike
I had shared several classes together with Paul at the National Fire Academy and had several conversations with him. Paul truly had a passion for the fire service and loved his community. My condolences to his family – friends and department.
Jim
Tonight we had the firefighter walk thur. There was about five school buses full of Firefighter there. Paul was one of my instructors when I first started. He is one of the main reasons that I became a instructor. He will be missed by all of us in Lapeer County. God Bless you Paul.
I worked with Paul on the M.S.F.A. State Board and Paul is one of the guys that talked me into running for the M.S.F.A. Board. Paul will be Missed by all the Firefighers that he has worked with and alot of the stuff that Paul work and lived for will help all Firefighter for years to come. Paul and I worked with some others on the M.S.F.A. with the N.V.F.C. Conf. that was hosted hear in the Great State of Michigan. Paul was respected in the State of Michigan and Nationally. My Condolences to the Wilcox family, The Almont Fire Department, and all the Fire Service. We Miss you Cheif Paul Wilcox.
Daniel H. Zarodkiewicz
M.S.F.A. State Board
I had the pleasure of getting to know Paul through NVFC meetings since 2004. Whether we were in formal committee meetings or informal sessions late into the night, the discussions tended to be lively and enjoyable. I’ll miss him. My prayers go out to his family, friends, and the Michigan Fire Service.
Larry Holmberg
Immediate Past President
Mass. Call/Volunteer Firefighters’ Association
I had the privilege of serving onthe Almont Fire Department for nine years…and the honor of calling Paul my freind. I can’t begain to express the love, honor and respect I have for this man. Good-bye Wilcox…we all miss you so…
as a member of Almont fire dept. i can say on behalf of all he will be greatly missed. chief was an inspiration to many, and a truly passionate firefighter. and you always knew he loved you by how much he yelled at you, and trust me i heard him yell. chief was very passionate about the fire service, and we were all always family to him Loosing him is truly a loss to not only michigan but the national fire service as well. thank you to everyone who helped over the past week, it was greatly appreciated, and greatly needed. I hope all who knew him remember to carry on with his passion for the fire service and feel peace in that he is in a better place.