TILLER, Ray 1890-1962

TILLER, WARD, FANNAN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/24/2015 at 21:57:16

[Waterloo Daily Courier, Thursday, January 11, 1962, Waterloo, Iowa]

Ray Tiller, 71, chief of Waterloo's fire department 42 years, died of a heart ailment and kidney complications about 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis Hospital.

Chief Tiller was the second head of the department since it was placed on paid basis in 1904. He became a fireman Dec. 14, 1908, was appointed lieutenant May 11, 1917, and was promoted to captain Aug. 1, 1918

It was Oct. 6, 1919 during the mayoralty term of R. C. Thompson that Ray was named chief. He succeeded Ashley Dunham who had headed the department as its first leader for a term of 15 years.

Chief Tiller was one of five young men added in 1908 to the force of fire fighters.
Records show that he hedged on his age to join.

In 1911 when Waterloo be came the first city in low to purchase motorized equipment Chief Tiller was driver of a horse drawn ladder wagon.

During the long tenure of Chief Tiller, believed to be a national record, the department force grew from 28 to more than 100 men. It was under his guidance and direction that motorization and improvement advanced to a point that made the Waterloo department one of the best in the nation for its population class.

"There isn't a fire chief in North America more respected than your own Ray Tiller," was the tribute he received in October of 1960 from J. W. Stevens, the director of International Chief's group. The occasion was presentation of a certificate of commendation to Tiller.

His death was the second loss to Waterloo in a six-month period of a major department head. Harry J. Krieg, who had served as police chief since 1946, died late last summer.

Chief Tiller was a long-time secretary-treasurer of the Missouri Valley Association of Fire Chiefs, a division of the International Fire Chiefs Association.

He was named president in 1939 of the International Association and had served on its board of directors continuously until three years ago. It was one of many honors he received during his unusually active life that was completely devoted to fires, firefighting equipment, the best methods of fighting fires and civilian defense.

Chief Tiller was born in Waterloo April 15, 1890, the son of William and Dora Ward Tiller. He was married to Mary A. Stapella* Sept. 11, 1924, in Waterloo.

He is survived by his wife and one brother, William L. Tiller, 620 W. Park Ave.

Chief Tiller was a member of St Paul's Methodist Church, member of the Waterloo Elks lodge and the Oddfellows lodge.

The body is at the Locke Funeral Home where services are pending.

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Burial at Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo.
*According to his wife's obit and other records her maiden name was Fannan.
Mary A. Fannan Tiller 1891 - 1971

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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