Bill Wutz, Williamsville firefighter received national honors
by DAVID F. SHERMAN Managing Editor

Wutz

Bill Wutz, honored as "Firefighter of the Year" by the National Volunteer Fire Council in 1998, died Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007.

Mr. Wutz, 91, a member of the Hutchinson Hose Company for 63 years, had been a resident of the Firemen's Home in Hudson, N.Y., since 2004.

His family moved to Williamsville from Buffalo in 1943, renting a duplex on Highland Drive for $60 per month.

A standout baseball player as a youth, he and his Semper Fidelis club captured the state championship in 1932. His athletic skills earned him a scholarship to Notre Dame University. He was later elected to the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.

Employed as a manufacturing engineer, he taught on a part-time basis for 37 years, most notably in the fire service program at Erie Community College.

He joined the fire department in 1944, and advanced to the position of president within five years. He held that position when the fire company's old Station One at 5570 Main St. was dedicated in 1949. He was an assistant chief from 1951 to 1952, and served again as president in 1963.

During a 1997 interview, he recalled fighting his first fire. He was driving home after a night in downtown Buffalo. He recalled that he was wearing a new suit and tie when he came down Main Street and saw the fire trucks exit the old Village Hall and head east towards Evans Street and a call at the Chalmers Gelatin Factory. After laboring at the fire, his new set of clothes was ruined.

Mr. Wutz's leadership skills were recognized outside Williamsville as well. He held numerous posts with the Amherst Fire Council, the Firemen's Memorial Exhibit Center, the Western New York Volunteer Firemen's Association and the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.

He received two unprecedented honors in 1998. First came the Fire Service Achievement Award from FASNY, presented in an impressive ceremony during the group's convention in Niagara Falls.

A few months later, Mr. Wutz was presented the Firefighter of the Year Award during a National Volunteer Fire Council event held in Warwick, R.I.

Both awards paid tribute to years of dedication to the community as well as the fire service itself.

Working with countless children from across the community, Mr. Wutz was actively involved in the department's fire prevention program for many years. His warm, grandfatherly nature made him an instant hit with youngsters eager to visit the fire hall.

He stepped down from the active rolls after more than 50 years of responding to emergency calls ranging from house fires to heart attacks.

"Like most anything else, you get out what you put in," he said in a 1998 interview. "Doing community service and really helping people is the best reward anyone can ask for."

Mr. Wutz ran for a seat on the Williamsville Village Board in 1950, losing by just two votes. He was a long-time member of the Williamsville Planning Board.

Two of Mr. Wutz's sons, Michael and Thomas, are also active in the fire service. Michael is president of FASNY and a past president of Hutchinson Hose. Thomas is an official with the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and a past chief of the Schoharie Fire Dept.

His late wife, Evelyn, was a founding member of the Hutchinson Hose Ladies Auxiliary.

The Firemen's Home was one of Mr. Wutz's favorite projects. He was a leading advocate for its $350 million expansion, a mission he saw accomplished just seven weeks ago. As a former member of the Home's board of trustees, Mr. Wutz had a formal role in the dedication of the facility.

In addition to Michael and Thomas, he is survived by a third son, William III; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

The family will be present from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Nov. 8 at the Beach-Tuyn Funeral Home, 5541 Main St., Williamsville.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 5480 Main St.

Memorials may be sent to the Firemen's Home, 125 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson, N.Y. 12534.