F. C. "Fritz" Sanders, who retired in 1974, died Thursday at an Ottawa hospital, after suffering a stroke Monday.
A former Lawrence fire chief who died Thursday was remembered as a cool-headed, dignified professional by those who worked with him.
F.C. "Fritz" Sanders died Thursday morning at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa at age 89. He had suffered a stroke Monday, his son, Bill, said.
Sanders, who joined the Lawrence Fire Department in 1941, was fire chief from 1960 to 1974.
"I think what I always remember about him was how cool he was during all the riots and the civil disturbance" in the late-1960s and early 1970s in Lawrence, said Larry Stemmerman, a retired firefighter who was hired by Sanders in 1961.
"He was a pretty happy, cheerful guy," Stemmerman said. "A very fair guy. He always would think things through pretty well, before he acted."
As fire chief, Sanders oversaw two of the biggest fires in Lawrence's history: The burning of the Kansas Union in 1970 and a fire that destroyed downtown buildings in the 700 block of Massachusetts and Vermont streets in 1966.
The downtown fire was the one that gave him the most gray hairs, he told the Journal-World in a 1974 interview, a few days before his retirement.
"That was one I'd just as soon not have been there for," he said.
City Manager Mike Wildgen said also had fond memories of Sanders.
"He was a very dignified man and professional," Wildgen said. "He was very dedicated to that profession."
Wildgen said Sanders stayed close with the department, even after his retirement.
"I think it was a mutual respect for him, and him for the department," Wildgen said. "It was good to see him come back for various events.
"He knew the history of Lawrence," Wildgen said. "He'd always talk about the big fires and big events."
When Sanders joined the department in 1941, there were 18 firefighters.
There were 62 when he retired in 1974.
In his off hours and in retirement, Sanders enjoyed collecting and restoring Edsels.
"He fixed them up, and he and (his wife) Dora went to shows all over the United States," Stemmerman said.
Sanders died a day after his wife.
Their son said the family was handling things relatively well, despite losing both his parents in two days.
"We've had some magnificent friends come in," he said. "They've just been magnificent with arrangements and with helping. It's made it, well, not easy, but it sure has lightened the load for my wife and I."
-- Michael Dekker's phone message number is 832-7187. His e-mail address is mdekker@ljworld.com.
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