Albert Anderson McGinnis
For years, fire boots never strayed far
from the side of Albert “Ab” McGinnis’ bed,
unless his feet were inside them.
“He had his fire boots that he kept by the bed
and he kept is fire pants down over the boots
so all he had to do was step into his boots and
pull up his pants. “He was ready day and night.”
McGinnis, whom some consider a “founding
father of fire service to Gaston County,” died
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at home.
He was 88.
McGinnis served as the county’s first full-time
fire marshal.
But in 1953, McGinnis and a handful of others
helped start New Hope Volunteer Fire Department.,
“He was a founding father of fire service to
Gaston County“.There were others, but he had
the vision, the leadership ability to make it happen.”
© Terry Moody Photography