Henderson County Sheriffs
1. William Grayson McCall – He was sheriff from 1950 to 1956.He was born and grew up in Henderson County, the son of Daniel Webster McCall and Virginia Johnson McCall. He was a realtor. He was a member of the Old Sixth Company during World War I, one of the charter members of the local chapter of the American Legion, and a member of the National Guard in the 1920s in Henderson County. He died July 8, 1956, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident on June 23, 1956. The accident occurred on U.S. 176 and is described as a “collision of passing cars.” He was “on duty” at the time. His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery.
2. Paul Zollie Hill – He was sheriff from 1956 to 1966. He was born and grew up in the Dana community, the son of George Johnson Hill and Della Blanche Pace Hill. He served in law enforcement most of his life. He was deputy sheriff when McCall died and was appointed to fill the term of sheriff. Hill was elected as sheriff twice, bringing his total years of service to 10 years. He lost the 1966 election, moved to Charlotte and worked as a special officer at the Douglas Municipal Airport in Charlotte. His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park.
Hendersonville Police Chiefs
1. Everett Clayton Orr served as Hendersonville Police Chief from 1945-55. Orr was born in Transylvania County, the son of Lambert Clayton Orr and Naomi Kitchens Orr. He married Estelle Justus. He moved to Henderson County between 1920 and 1930. His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery.
2. William S. “Bill” Keeling served as Hendersonville Police Chief for one year, from 1955 to 1956. He was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. He sparred with Jack Dempsey in Laurel Park. He married Emily Hefner of Henderson County. He died in 1958 while serving as a captain with the police department. His grave site is at Oakdale Cemetery.
3. William V. “Bill” Powers, son of Otis Powers, served as Hendersonville Police Chief from 1956 to 1978. Powers would later serve as the Department Head of the Public Works department before retiring in the late 1980s. He died in 2010. He was the second longest-serving police chief, after his father. For more information, visit http://www.thosshepherd.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=739525&fh_id=10745
Hendersonville Fire Department
Edward “Ed” Ernest Edney (1914-1997) was the son of Clarence Homer Edney and Hester Nix Edney. He served 37 years as Hendersonville Fire Chief, from 1945 to 1976. He retired in 1976. His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park.
County Fire Departments
Mountain Sanitarium and Hospital (Park Ridge Hospital) bought a fire truck in the early 1950s. This leads to the formation of the Fletcher Volunteer Fire Department, the first volunteer fire department in Henderson County.
Fletcher Fire and Rescue was officially organized in 1953 by the Fletcher Lions Club. It was chartered in 1954. Vernon Williams was the first chief of the fire department. Fletcher was the first department to also respond as emergency medical technicians. Fletcher currently employs 18 personnel who respond out of three stations in the 33 square mile fire district that includes the Fletcher, Naples and Hooper’s Creek communities. For more information, visit http://fletcherfirerescue.com/
Valley Hill Fire and Rescue was founded in 1956 by a group of residents. It was incorporated in 1958. The first fire chief was Emmett Reitzbach, followed by John C. Laughter. Valley Hill Fire and Rescue responds out of four stations in a 28 square mile district. This coverage includes the town of Laurel Park, the Valley Hill and Crab Creek communities, and sections of Flat Rock. It is a combination paid and volunteer department with 55 volunteers and 15 paid employees. For more information, visit http://vhfd.com/
Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue was founded when a group of community residents began organizing to fund a fire department in 1956, and it was incorporated in 1958. The first chief was Lennell Corn. Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue responds out of two stations, at East Flat Rock and Flat Rock. The fire district covers about 23 square miles and includes the communities of Barker Heights, East Flat Rock, Upward, Tracy Grove, much of the village of Flat Rock and a southern area of Hendersonville. It is combination paid and volunteer department with 45 volunteers and 10 paid employees. For more information, visit http://www.blueridgefire.com/
Green River Volunteer Fire and Rescue began in response to a house fire in 1958 in which two boys died. This fire department incorporated in 1958. The first fire chief was Edwin H. Allen Jr. The fire department’s district contains 39 square miles and covers the communities of Green River, Tuxedo, Zirconia and sections of Flat Rock. The department has three stations with the main station in Tuxedo and substations in the areas of Mountain Valley near Pinnacle Mountain and on Bob’s Creek Road. There about 50 volunteers with the department.
Rescue Squad
The Henderson County Rescue Squad organized in 1956 after three people drowned in Lake Summit. The Henderson County VFW Post voted to start a 25-member squad with the purpose to assist on any mission of mercy and any disaster or accident where human life is or has been endangered. The Hendersonville Fire Department donated the first vehicles. The first chief was Ed Hunnicutt. The organization was chartered in 1957. For more information, visit http://hendersoncountyrescue.org/history.html