Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas along with interim Fire Chief Ross Grundyson congratulate retired Fire Captain and Fire Department Historian on his 66-year career with the Kansas City, MO Fire department. Elder received the department’s Lifetime Contribution Award for his ongoing service with the department | Photo by Michael Bushnell

Michael Bushnell

Contributor

The Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department (KCFD) recognized some of its own for exemplary service to both the department and the community during a gala, black-tie event Saturday, Nov. 2 at Municipal Auditorium. 

Dozens of active firefighters, paramedics, captains and civilian communications staff were recognized for their service. This is the first awards banquet of its kind where the department recognizes its own for meritorious service, according to Fire Department Spokesman Michael Hopkins.

 “Firefighters are typically pretty low key,” said Hopkins. “We’re kind of in the mindset of that’s just our job in serving our community.” 

One award, however, stood out above all the rest — the department’s Lifetime Contribution award. This year’s recipient, the first to receive the award, was none other than Historic Northeast native Ray Elder —  honored for his over 66 years of service with and for the department. 

Elder, whose name is synonymous with KCFD history, began his career with the department on July 28, 1958 at Station 14, located at 2504 E. Sixth St. Ray rose through the ranks, retiring as a captain out of station 16 at NW 112^th St. and I-29 on July 28, 1993. 

Following his retirement from active firefighting, Elder remained closely associated with the department through his work at the Fire History Museum, initially at Tenth and Cherry — the museum’s original location — and then its present home at old Station 28 (73rd and Troost). 

“The Fire Department hasn’t been very good about documenting its long history in Kansas City,” said Hopkins. “Ray has almost single-handedly and painstakingly documented the department’s history back to its early days in the late 1870’s and has been an invaluable tool in making sure the department’s history has been accurately documented for future generations of Kansas Citians.” 

Elder has authored a number of books about KCFD and its integral relationship with Kansas City’s history in general. Those works include “Historic Street Scenes of Kansas City — photographs from the Val B. Mintin collection, 1867 through 1931, History from the Past, Kansas City Fire Department, Volumes 1 and 2, and Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department, 1868 to 2006. 

One of Elder’s achievements working with the Fire Historical Society was the acquisition and complete restoration of the department’s 1927 Ahrens Fox MS4 Pumper Truck — now on display at the Fire Museum on Troost. “I helped tear that down so it could be shipped out and restored,” Elder said.  

In 2022, Elder was recognized by the city for his distinguished career documenting the department’s history and named the official Fire Department Historian. 

Before the night was over, Elder was in for another surprise. Moving forward, the department’s Lifetime Contribution award will now bear Elder’s name — making it the Ray Elder KCFD Lifetime Contribution Award. 

Elder, who was in attendance with his wife Nancy, was visibly taken aback by the standing ovation he received as he made his way to the stage. 

“Nancy and I were mystified until we saw the program that night, we didn’t really get clued in on what they had in mind,” Elder said. “As soon as I got mine, they gave the first award with my name on it to Battalion Chief Chad Daily, who is currently a Shift Safety Officer out of Station 10 at Ninth and The Paseo. Daily has 35 years of service in the department.” 

Elder continues his documentation of department history from his northland home and said he is currently working on another book — this time documenting the life of former KCFD Chief Stanton Gladden. Gladden, a Battalion Chief with the department in 1959, was instrumental in exposing attempted mob influences over the department. An attempt was made on Gladden’s life after he refused to “play ball” with the local outfit; Attorney General Robert Kennedy launched an investigation into mob influences over the Fire and Teamsters Union.