LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Chief Brian Wilbur upon the occasion
of his retirement after 22 years of dedicated service to the Ithaca Fire
Department

WHEREAS, The firefighters of New York State are renowned throughout the
Nation; their reputation is synonymous with excellence in the arduous
field of fire protection and prevention; and
WHEREAS, Since the early days of "teapot steamers," the firefighter
has been the cornerstone of our great Nation's efforts to spare us from
the ravages of fire; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Chief Brian Wilbur upon the occasion of his retirement after 22 years of
dedicated service to the Ithaca Fire Department, including 16 years as
fire chief; and
WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur was recognized for his extraordinary
career at a retirement reception held on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at
The Emerson Suites, Ithaca College Campus Center, Ithaca, New York; and
WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur began firefighting at the Cincinnatus Fire
Department as a volunteer; he eventually became the fire chief of the
department and was later made a life member; and
WHEREAS, On June 21, 1974, Chief Brian Wilbur was appointed as a fire-
fighter in the Cortland Fire Department; displaying exemplary leadership
skills, he was promoted to fire lieutenant on January 8, 1980, and to
chief on March 13, 1981, a position he held until June 21, 1985; during
this time, he also served as a New York State Office of Fire Prevention
and Control state fire instructor; and
WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur joined the Ithaca Fire Department on
August 9, 1987, when he was appointed deputy fire chief; on July 1,
1993, he was selected as fire chief and proudly served in this position
until his retirement on August 30, 2009; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Chief Brian Wilbur has served as fire commis-
sioner of the Cortlandville Fire District and was a volunteer for the
Varna Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the enhancement of firefighting, Chief Brian
Wilbur was a member of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs,
where he served on Career Chiefs, Codes and Public Relations Committees;
he was also the secretary for the Career Chiefs Association of the State
of New York; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Chief Brian Wilbur was an extremely active member
of the Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response; he served as a
member of the E-911 Task Force; vice chair of the E-911 Advisory Commit-
tee; chair of the Emergency Communications Review and Operations Commit-
tee; member of the Tompkins County Fire, EMS and Disaster Advisory
Board; and a member of the County Emergency Planning Committee; and
WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur also guided the formation of a county
hazardous materials response team as well as facilitated the creation of
a joint county/city fire training center; furthermore, he served on the
board of directors of the New York State Academy of Fire Science Faculty
Students Association and was a member of the Fire Department Instruc-
tors' Conference audio visual crew; and
WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur is a graduate of the Executive Fire Offi-
cers' Program, and the National Fire Academy; he earned his bachelor of
science degree in management with honors from the University of Phoenix;
and
WHEREAS, Despite his busy professional life, Chief Brian Wilbur has
been called upon to contribute his time and talents to countless civic

and charitable endeavors and has always given of himself unstintingly;
and
WHEREAS, Chief Brian Wilbur has faithfully served such illustrious
organizations as the American Red Cross, the Ithaca Rotary Club, the
Taughannock District, Baden Powell Council of the Boy Scouts of America
and the Cancer Resource Center; he is also the co-leader of the Tompkins
Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer Education and Support Group; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Chief Brian Wilbur has stood
constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Citizens across our state and nation are inspired by and
indebted to valiant firefighters such as Chief Brian Wilbur who exhib-
ited courage and bravery every day in the course of his duties; and
WHEREAS, Firefighters exemplify the power of human compassion and the
strength of the American spirit through actions of the most heroic
magnitude; their sacrifices and their selfless dedication merit tribute
and recognition by all citizens of this great country; and
WHEREAS, It takes a special dedication, a strong desire to help others
and a tireless sense of community to forsake precious time with family
and friends to respond to the signal that a neighbor is in need; Chief
Brian Wilbur is such a firefighter; throughout many years of devoted
service, he heroically performed, above and beyond the call of duty,
those responsibilities which define the task of fire protection; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Chief Brian Wilbur upon the occasion of his retirement after 22
years of dedicated service to the Ithaca Fire Department; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Chief Brian Wilbur.