Ilion High School - Class of 1967

Herkimer Evening Telegram - November 17, 1966

Heroic Deed Cited - Plan to Name School For Fireman Pushed

Article 10

Heroic Deed Cited - Plan to Name School For Fireman Pushed

ILION - An informal survey of Ilion residents has shown unanimous support for a proposal of firemen to name the new Barringer Road elementary the Burton Seymour School, according to John Fitzer, president, Ilion Volunteer Fire Department.

"Everyone thinks it is a good idea to thus honor a fireman who gave his life at a school fire," Fitzer said. Burton Seymour, a fireman for nine years, died when he fell from the roof of the Ilion High School during the disastrous fire of April 21, 1963.

Fitzer was among a group of firemen, both paid and volunteers, who submitted the recommendation to the school Board Tuesday night. The matter was tabled for further study.

Fire Chief Richard L. Wright said he is supporting the proposal: "I feel it would be an appropriate and lasting memorial for a man who gave his life at the high school fire."

Fitzer said the firemen sampled public opinion on the matter before deciding to make the proposal. "We wanted to know how the general public felt about it first," he said.

Alvin Conkling, volunteer fireman, who was spokesman for the group is presenting the proposal to the school board, said in part in a statement prepared for the meeting: "I think we all have a characteristic in that we forget too quickly. There is an old saving that time heals all wounds. I guess that is good, in a sense.

"In this particular case we had a man who chose to serve you and me and the Village of Ilion in the fire department. Mr. Seymour, as we all recall, was killed performing his duties."

"There is a saying 'greater love hath no man than he who has laid down his life for others.' With thought in mind I make a recommendation to the board that the new elementary school be named in his memory, lest we do forget."

Besides Fitzer and Conkling, the group also included: Deputy Fire Chief Roy Backman, representing Firemen's Local 1185; John Janicki, Robert Day, Louis Jones, Harry Fitch, and John Remis.

Fitzer said that, if approved, the memorial would be the second involving firemen in recent years. He said the solarium at the new Mohawk VaUey General Hospital was donated by firemen.