Introduction
William Dawson Ayers was born in Philadelphia on February 10, 1933 to Josephine and William Ayers. His father was a veteran of World War I, and there were at least two other children in the Ayers family, older sisters Mary and Elizabeth, both born prior to the 1930 Census Enumeration.
William D. Ayers was listed in the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory at 2846 Pierce Avenue in Cramer Hill. He lived at that address into the 1970s, when he moved to Voorhees Township, New Jersey.
William D. Ayers was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on August 15, 1961. He was promoted to Captain on March 7, 1969 and assigned to Ladder Company 1. A further promotion, to Battalion Chief, came on November 4, 1982. After over 29 years of distinguished service, Chief Ayers retired on March 1, 1991.
A resident of Voorhees Township, New Jersey at the time of his death, William D. Ayers died on June 16, 1992.
Third Alarm, Haddon Avenue & Federal Street
Canteen Corpsman Peter Meyer of the South Jersey Fire Buffs Association serves refreshments to Captain William Ayers of Ladder Company 1 following battle at tough Third Alarm at Haddon Avenue and Federal Street, August 14, 1969. Standing in background, Fire Inspector William Neale.
Corpsman Meyer later joined the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Police, Fire Tests Take Heavy Toll
Camden Courier-Post —
Courier-Post Bureau
TRENTON — The high rate of failures on police and fire examinations was repeated yesterday in the Civil Service Department’s announcement of the results of tests for fire captain and patrolman in Camden City.
In the captain’s test, 23 passed, 64 failed and two did not show up for the test. In the test for patrolman, 10 passed, 32 failed and 14 failed to show. In the non-residents’ test for Camden patrolman, six passed, eight failed and five did not appear.
In the fire captain’s test, Kenneth M. Clark of 111 North 26th St., Camden, a veteran, qualified with a score of 92.6, highest for the seven veterans who qualified. Joseph R. Gfrorer of 3040 N. Constitution Road, Camden, was highest of applicants with a score of 96.5.
In the residents’ patrolman test, Robert D. Craig of 817 Vine Street was high with 78. In the non resident’s test, Edwin B. Hoffman of 514 Walnut Street, Audubon, a veteran qualified with 72.2 and Flem J. Hopkins Jr. of 113 Estates Ave., Pine Hill, was high with 78.
Others who passed the fire captain’s test were:
George D. Getty of 1111 N. 34 St., 95.4; John DiMaggio of 319 Beckett St., 94; Joseph J. Anderson of 2406 Denfield St., 92.96; Phillip A. Maycott of 2836 Lincoln Ave., 90.5; James McMaster of 402 N. 37th St., 90.2; William D. Hillman of 3071 Constitution Rd., 89.4; Joseph Arensberg of 1041 N. 32nd St., 88.3; Robert E. Briggs of 2861 Congress Road, veteran, 86.3; John S. Brzozowski of 371 N. 34th St., 86.2; Edmund F. Gorczynski of 272 N. 33rd St., veteran, 85.4; Anthony F. Orme of 3317 River Ave., veteran, 82.4; William J. Young of 1126 N. 33rd St., 80.5; William D. Ayers of 2846 Pierce Ave., veteran, 79.1; Joseph Dowhy Sr., of 866 Beideman Ave., veteran, 78.9; James O. Jones of 3214 Mitchell St., 78.3; Joseph Chelhowski of 1324 Sheridan St., veteran, 75.8; James T. Robinson of 504 Trenton Ave., 75.5; Anthony D. Moffa of 23 Leonard Ave., 73.3; Robert E. Davenport of 1026 Reeves Ave., 73; John F. Gaffney Jr., of 78 S. Dudley St., 72.8, and Albert E. Collum Jr., of 2409 Howell St., 72.6.
Patrolman (residents) who passed:
Joseph A. Fox of 2117 Mount Ephraim Ave., 77.1; Charles W. Cahilly 2d of 2015 Westminster Ave., 75.; Edward B. Bush of 3210 Mitchell St., 78.9; John F. Oppmann of 550 N. 30th St., 77.7; Gary E. Miller of 486-A Rand St., 77.4; Donald J. Tymusczuk of 2737 Concord Ave., 75.1; Joseph A. Broccoli of 1467 Pershing St., 74.2; Richard W. Merta of 1641 Pulaski St., 72.9, and Robert G. Gibson of 572 Clinton St., 72.6.
Patrolman (nonresidents) who passed:
Flem J. Hopkins Jr., 78; Elwood L. Ridge, 75.4; Joseph E. Benton, 74.7; David Vautier Jr., 74.1, and Frank R. Pedano, 73.8.
Merit Awards
Camden Courier-Post —
Outgoing city fire chief Theodore Primas presented awards Thursday to two citizens and fire personnel for outstanding service.
The following day, John J. Mgock Jr. was sworn in as the new fire chief by Mayor Angelo J. Errichetti. Mgock replaces Primas, who retires today.
Joseph Timmons, a Voorhees cabbie, received a community service award for saving two children whose 28 Stewart St. home was on fire Jan. 20. Agnes Shad, director of the Riverview Towers at 2nd and Mickle streets, was cited for maintaining a fire-safe building in full compliance wih the fire code and training staff and tenants in fire safety.
Firemen honored included Capt. William Ayers, Capt. Joseph Gfrorer, Ernest Newkirk and Adelbert Kirk Jr. for risking their own safety in fighting a fire at 2930 Cramer St. Firefighter Francis P. Stibi was honored for attendance. In his 25 years of service, he took only two sick days.
Personnel Record
Camden Fire Department personnel record for William D. Ayers.