Outstanding Contributors to The Fund
- B.J. Cafferkey served as a pension board member from May 26, 1937 through December 30, 1940.
- H. Diezi served as a pension board member from May 26, 1937 through December 29, 1944.
- C.M. Duffield served as a pension board member from May 26, 1937 through April 26, 1940.
These three individuals are considered the "forefathers" of the Fund. Responding to the need for a firemen’s pension fund in Houston, these three set out to Austin to begin the push for what became the Houston Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Fund. After the Fund was established, they became the first fire fighter members of the first Board on May 26, 1937. Here's a copy of the first board meeting minutes.
Earl McWilliams played a large role in not only the Fire Department - as president of the union - but also as a member and chairman of the pension board. He also toiled endlessly as secretary-treasurer of Local 341, when he would go to each fire station every month in order to collect dues for the Union and the Benevolent Fund. As a result of this interaction with the men, he built a good relationship with firefighters and knew each one by name. Chief McWilliams’ dedication to the job became evident as well in his tenure as a board member. He was one of the firefighters who championed the separate statutory authority achieved by the Fund in 1975.
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Alcus Greer contributed immensely to the Fund, not only as chairman for 15 years, but also in his role as legislative advisor to the Fund. The only fireman at the time to hold a law degree, Mr. Greer toiled endlessly to draft and perfect bills submitted to the Texas Legislature. An aggressive reformer, he was always originating ideas for ways to better the Fund through legislation. He was able to see the needs of the Fund, originate solutions for them, and draft the necessary legislation. As a result of his expertise and experience, he was regarded nationally as an authority on pension funds and pension investments. He also was a major proponent of increased standards for entrance into the Fire Department and greater professionalism among firefighters in the 1960s. As a result of his efforts, the college tuition bill, which exempted firefighters from having to pay tuition and laboratory fees at state-supported schools, was passed in 1971. Mr. Greer used his passion and knowledge to advance the causes of the Fund while chairman. He thus earned the reputation of being one of the "greatest champions of the pension system." On June 15, 1989, Alcus Greer was elected by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees to the position of "Chairman Emeritus" of the Board of Trustees.
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Bill Drohan served the Fire Department as a legislative agent and a board member for a number of years. He was instrumental in the passing of the separate statutory authority, Article 6243e.2, in 1975.
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- George E. Lowdermilk served as a pension board member from January 19, 1962 through December 16, 1971 and from January 16, 1975 to December 31, 2004
Known as "Mr. Pension," George Lowdermilk served on the board longer than any other board member in the Fund’s history. Capt. Lowdermilk was known as both a dedicated firefighter and responsible protector of the Fund. In addition to being active in the Fund, he was also an integral part of the benevolent fund and the credit union and was a recording secretary for Local No. 341. One of those rare individuals who was respected and liked by everyone, "Captain George" was an ongoing, steady influence on the Fund's operations. His ability to reason and soothe conflicts earned him respect and a reputation as an arbiter. His opinion was continually sought, and his leadership was only surpassed by his compassion for firefighters and their families. His work with survivors of deceased firefighters showed dedication far beyond what has been necessary for the job. Trusted by many firefighters - both active and retired - Captain Lowdermilk became a living monument of the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund.
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In addition to his service as a board member, Bill Whatley served as legislative agent for Local No. 341 from 1970 to 1976 and played a large role in bringing about legislative changes for the Fund. He was a major factor in the enactment of Article 6243e.2 in 1975, as well as the Pension Escalator Clause in 1971. Mr. Whatley’s contributions to the Fund and knowledge of Austin’s legislative process were tremendous, culminating in the passage of at least 20 bills benefiting Houston firefighters, including a bill that established the Texas Commission on Firefighter Standards and Education.
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Elected chairman by his peers only one year after serving on the board, Chairman Cones was a bright young firefighter who was anxious to see some changes in the pension system he was elected to guide. As a firefighter, George Cones had gone to night school to get a bachelor’s degree in communications and then attended law school before finally becoming a practicing attorney. As an attorney, Cones identified and drafted key provisions into the Fund’s governing statute that further empowered the pension board. Cones also led the board into sophisticated investment strategies that characterized the financial markets of the 1980s and successfully challenged the city for control of the administration of the pension fund in 1988. Cones was a "hands-on" chairman who set out to prove that firefighters could manage their Fund like a business. Cones understood that with pension funds’ growing size, came responsibilities, and he got the Fund involved in issues like corporate governance and venture capital investing. Committed to the value of education, he encouraged and always led his fellow board members to be forward-thinking. George Cones resigned from the board in 1989 when the board asked him to become the Fund’s first executive director.
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Though his time working with the Fund was cut short by his untimely death, Dennis Holder nevertheless had time to make a huge impact on the Fund and those who worked with him. He was known as a do-er and was the last assistant chief to achieve that position through the examination process. Though he had attained the highest promotional level, he had a reputation for being a great public servant who would perform even the most menial of duties. He was instrumental in reforming the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program of the Fire Department in the early 1980s. Before joining the board, Chief Holder distinguished himself as legislative agent for the union. He brought about the sick time bill and a bill which made bringing frivolous charges against firefighters and police officers more difficult. Known by many as a man who would put the needs of others before his own, Chief Holder spent his years on the board doing just that as he looked out for the futures of his fellow firefighters. Dennis Holder believed that good decisions derived from openness, honesty and the free flow of information. He was a strong supporter of the Fund's initiatives on the World Wide Web. Read a tribute to Dennis Holder in The Smoke Reader, December 8, 1995.
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Mr. Price was one of the first five firefighters to serve on the Board of Trustees after it expanded from five to nine members in 1958 to better manage the growing size of the Fund. Cady Price served in the Fire Department for over 45 years and retired as a deputy chief in 1974. In addition to his service on the Board of Trustees, Chief Price served as president of both the State Firefighters' Association and the Houston Professional Firefighters' Association Local No. 341. He also served as a trustee of the Fire Fighters Federal Credit Union for many years and enlisted himself in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
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In her nine years of employment with the Fund, former Executive Director Jennifer Cooper Morales helped to mold the Fund into the success it is today. Soon after she began working with the Fund as its first professional employee, the board decided to administer the Fund independently from the city. During those pioneering years, Jennifer was instrumental in developing the framework and policies and procedures needed to administer and safeguard the Fund. In 1992, after working her way "up through the ranks," Jennifer was named the Fund's executive director. She was instrumental in bringing about several benefit enhancements for Fund members and was vigilant in ensuring that the Fund could always pay for benefits promised. She also assembled a team of professional staff members to assist the board in making sure that the retirement needs of Houston firefighters and their families are always met. Understanding the importance and power of information, Jennifer always strived to better the lines of communication among the pension board, staff, the city and membership. She founded the SMOKEREADER, the "just-in-time" newssheet sent out to the Fund's 3,100+ active members, which informs them about issues affecting their pension fund. Also, in 1995, Jennifer designed and established the Fund's home page on the World Wide Web.
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