NEAFC 32nd Annual Conference.pdf - New England Association of ...

NEW ENGLAND _A_SSOCIATIOlq" ,~OF FIRE CHIEFS
Following that, in januar¢-ofi948, i~e was elected as Attorney General
of the State of Rhode Island, and he has. served, now, for three terms in that
position. In Rhode Island, the Attorney, General is. dected, so it is. a double
honor to be elected and have the ability and the capacity to fill that position.
In addition to that, he has. served on the Executive Committee of the National
Association of Attorneys-General, and his opinion and his word car_ry
great weight, throughout the nation, because he is an outstanding citizen.
And so, at this time, Bill, and he is "Bill" to me because at?ter all we have
to be friendly with these people, even though they are misled at the ballot box,
it is my pleasure to make you a citizen in the very distinguished and exclusive
New Hampshire Whoopers. I hope this will not offend your sense of fair
play, for you will find other great men who are members, such as. our great
Republican President, General-Eisenhower, that great Republican General,
Douglas MacArthur, that great Republican comedian, Arthur Godfrey and
many others.
I have a little citation which I am going to read to you that outlines pretty
well and pretty completely what this honor means. Let me read ’the scroll
to you, Bill:
~Honorary Whooper of the Great State of New Hampshire. To all
those who shall see these presents: Greetings."
(Governor Gregg then read the citation to Attorney-General William E.
Powers of Rhode Island.)
Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to introduce to you good people the Attorney-General
of Rhode Island, Judge William E. Powers.! (Applause.)
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM E. POWERS: Thank you, Governor. I
am very grateful to you for your thoughtfulness and I want to assure you that
any time you are in Rhode Island, you may drive as fast as. you please, but not
for long! (Laughter.)
Mr. Toastmaster, my very distinguished fellow Rhode Islanders, President
of this Association, Henri E. Fortier, his gracious and .lovely lady and their
son Henri, Junior and his wife, the Reverend members of the Clergy, Father
Collins and Reverend Mr. Fitzsimmons, Your Excellency, Governor Gregg and
your charming and lovely lady, the First Lady of New Hampshire, Mrs. Gregg,
Chief Henry Thomas, President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs
and your very lovely lady, my very distinguished friend and the best newspaper
man I know, Press. Representative of this, Association and affiliated with the
Woonsocket CALL, which, unfortunately, does. not always, agree with me,
Andy Palmer, andhis lovely lady, Mrs. Palmer, the distinguished Fire Chiefs
here at the head table and their lovely ladies, all of the Fire Chiefs who are members
o£ this Association and their guests., Ladies and Gentlemen. And if there
is somebody else present, ask them to leave at once! (Laughter.)
I would like to point out that two people named Gregg have gained the
nation’s respect and appreciation. The first was a gentleman whom I have never
met, but to whom I am considerably indebted. He invented a system for shorthand.
The second gentleman I know quite well, and I respect and admire him
and I have a great deal of affection for him; even though he was. misguided in his
youth, and of course I am referring to the Governor of this distinguished State.
259.