TOWN OF WALLKILL – Wallkill Town Hall was filled to capacity on Thursday night, with family, members of the Silver Lake Fire Department, and Wallkill town officials as they honored the late William Price, the first African American fire chief in that department.
The accolades and official county and state proclamations were many, detailing the chief’s many community accomplishments. Most recognized his kind heartedness, and dedication to “community spirit” as well as the many risks to his own life he took as a fireman, for the safety of area residents.
He began his service with the Silver Lake Fire Department in 1963 and became chief in 1973.
Price was also a veteran of WWII.
His grandson, Eric, spoke of his grandfather’s dedication, saying that despite the fact that he was the first black fire chief in both Wallkill and the State of New York, and the fourth in the entire nation, he was loved and respected for his personal qualities, and succeeded because of his hard work and skills, and not because he was black.
The family is starting a scholarship fund for Wallkill students, in the hopes that understanding the qualities that made Price the generous and successful man that he was may help them to grow into better people. Eric Price said that his grandfather would not be looking to be fussed over, “What would make him happy would be seeing all the members of the Wallkill community coming together like this.”
Orange County Legislator Mike Anagnostakis, who was representing Senator James Skoufis, pointed out that sometimes we take firemen for granted. “We forget that they go where we run away from. They’re clearly not in it for the glory or money, but to keep residents safe.”
Anagnostakis said the county spends $125 million a year on resident services. If they had to pay for fire department services as well, it would cost another $150 million of property taxes. “It’s about the community.”
In addition to his work as fire chief, Price was known for his work as grievance coordinator at Otisville Correctional Facility and also for his contributions to developing affordable housing for the area’s poor.
