The Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) was a network opportunity for instructors conducted by ISO Insurance prior to 1935 through 1979. Important milestones in its 90-year history include the following:

Note: Copies of the Conference Proceedings from 1940-1982 can be found at the Learning Resource Center at the National Emergency Training Center.

Following are birthday greetings and reminisces from longtime instructors, attendees, and exhibitors. Happy 90th Birthday, FDIC International!

Captain Art Bloomer, Kearny (NJ) Fire Department: I came to my first FDIC almost 25 years ago. I had been in the fire service for almost 15 years at  that time, and while I am a fourth-generation firefighter, I wasn’t getting everything out of the job that I could and, without a doubt, not putting much back in. I had just moved down to the Jersey Shore and had joined the local volunteer fire department, and right away they asked me to teach them some “tricks of the trade” since I was a career guy. So, as I was looking through a few older issues of Fire Engineering to get a few ideas, I came across the ads for FDIC. I made arrangements to go the next year and have not missed one since. I think my most memorable experience was the first time I was accepted to teach after a few tries with proposals. My first time teaching there was an eye-opening experience and just a bit scary too. Since then, I have been very lucky to have been brought back many times as both a hands-on training and classroom instructor. In more recent years, I have also spent many hours with the FDIC Pipes and Drums, bringing that tradition to all our brothers and sisters who attend. It’s impossible to describe the pride that I feel at every Opening Ceremony as I fire up my pipes to play “Amazing Grace” with the assembled band. I can’t wait to get out to Indy every year to recharge my batteries. And maybe someday, I can teach my class while wearing my kilt!

Firefighter (Ret.) Joe Nedder, Uxbridge (MA) Fire Department: I got my first taste of the FDIC in 1996 and have not missed a conference since. Between the conference and the exhibit hall, I have furthered my knowledge and have kept current. In fact, it was at the conference that I first heard the words “flow path” from Steve Kerber and learned to “read smoke” from Dave Dodson! In addition, I have made a lot of great friends who share my passion. In 2010, I taught my first class at FDIC and have taught every year since; I am honored to say that I will once again be teaching at the 2017 conference. All this really happened because a young, small-town volunteer firefighter wanted to learn more; found a stack of Fire Engineering magazines at the firehouse; and took advantage of the knowledge that was written within. Though I am retired, I still teach and as such must continue to keep myself current and knowledgeable, so I still read Fire Engineering monthly, and I always look forward to FDIC!

Deputy Chief (Ret.) John Murphy, Murphy Law Group: I finally had the opportunity to attend my first FDIC in 2008 at the invitation of Chip Comstock, who was gathering a bunch of attorneys to present a legal panel as one of the features of the conference. Those included were Chip Comstock, Brad Pinsky, Curt Varone, Mark Robens, and Gerald Duff. We had our 15 minutes of fame on a stage in front of hundreds of firefighters discussing legal issues in the fire service. That was one of the first times legal issues were a main part of FDIC, and the rest is history. Legal issues and several prominent attorneys are featured at each FDIC conference. I have had the great honor of being a part of that history and have become a frequent blogger and a member of Fire Service Court Radio on Blog Talk Radio. One of the things I admire about FDIC is the willingness to have the tough discussions and presentations. The latest one is the discussion on behavioral health and firefighter suicide initially presented by my wife, Dr. Beth Murphy, a retired firefighter. FDIC 2016 had five presentations on firefighter mental health and a large panel discussing the issue facing today’s fire service–mental health and suicide. I applaud the courage of the FDIC staff to make this a discussible issue in today’s fire service. Ninety years of FDIC is a major accomplishment when conferences fade over time due to the lack of material or interest. Every year I attend FDIC, I am amazed that it gets bigger and more interesting, attracting thousands of like-minded firefighters to learn, teach, hang out, and participate in the greatest educational show on earth. Thanks to the staff of FDIC for allowing me to participate in this event. There is no greater honor than “passing it on” to other firefighters, and FDIC provides that opportunity.

Captain Mark Cotter, Salisbury (MD) Fire Department: My relationship with FDIC is not as long as some but is exceptional in its own way. I first attended in 1998 as a speaker. I had been to other conferences as a presenter and a learner, but the Indianapolis gathering was on a whole other level altogether. The exhibits and education, of course, were epic and provided this idea junkie with so much material that it quickly overloaded my capacity for memory and recall. And, I had never experienced a city that opened its arms so widely to welcome one group or so many of one group taking advantage of such a welcome. It was participating as a member of that immense and temporary community of firefighters, though, that had the biggest impact. United by a passion for learning, yet aware of the finite duration of our direct collaborations, there is a collective intensity to our interactions and participation, a shared desire to squeeze as much as possible out of the few days we are together. Since then, I have attended FDIC a half dozen times, sometimes as a speaker and other times on my own dime, but always as a student of the craft, looking to improve my understanding and abilities. I have never left disappointed. I’ll keep attending FDIC for insight and inspiration as long as I am a participant in this proud profession.

EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy, Saratoga County, New York; EMS Technical Editor, Fire Engineering; and 2017 General Session Keynoter: Besides FDIC, a mere handful of trade and educational shows have survived 90 years, and probably none aside from FDIC continues to grow. That is an accomplishment to be recognized and celebrated. I started writing for Fire Engineering and attending FDIC some 17 years ago and became the EMS technical editor in 2006. As the “EMS guy,” I have been honored, humbled, and incredibly proud to work with the best of the best in the fire service. The work that goes on behind the scenes to produce Fire Engineering magazine, its digital edition, and Web site requires a small army of incredible people I consider my family. An even larger contingent toils to make FDIC happen year after year. What I can say about Fire Engineering and FDIC, unlike many other publications and shows that I have worked for, is that they have always maintained a razor focus on their mission. The mission is training firefighters and emergency responders, not making a lot of money, not publishing sexy pictures, not being the mouthpiece of membership or advocacy groups. The focus on that mission, in my opinion, is why Fire Engineering has enjoyed 140 years and FDIC 90 birthdays. EMS providers and firefighters appreciate honest, legitimate, factual, and cutting edge training from the best and the brightest minds in the industry. They also appreciate the opportunity to contribute, interact, e-mail, blog, tweet, and podcast for and with Fire Engineering and FDIC. There is no exclusivity. In fact, Fire Engineering and FDIC have always strived to mentor, encourage, and develop new authors, speakers, and instructors. I could not be more proud of that. The legacy of 140 years of Fire Engineering and 90 years of FDIC is an amazing, impressive, and absolutely incredible effort to bring the best and most progressive training to the fire and emergency services. I am so proud to be a part of this amazing journey and so happy to work with such dedicated editors, writers, speakers, and staff. Equally, I am impressed, amazed, and incredibly awed every day at the support and contributions made by our fire and EMS brothers and sisters. I know that Fire Engineering and FDIC will have many more birthdays to celebrate with the fire service.

District Chief Walter Lewis, Orlando (FL) Fire Department: Since 1999, I have attended FDIC each year and have loved every time I’ve gone. Because of Fire Engineering magazine and the conference, I can confidently say that I am a better firefighter and fire officer because of what I have learned and gained through both avenues. I’ve met tons of incredible people, participated in fantastic training, and had some great opportunities along the way. The birthday present is mine to have, for having become a better firefighter has improved my chances of coming home to my family. And for that, I cannot thank you enough. God bless, and may there be many, many more years of Fire Engineering and FDIC!

Chief Scientist Richard Gasaway, Situational Awareness Matters: So there I was, at my first-ever FDIC in Memphis, Tennessee. I was in awe. There were a few things that stick in my memory to this very day. Watching the ducks being escorted to the fountain at the Peabody Hotel, eating ribs on a paper plate at the Rendezvous, and the look of bewilderment when I saw Memphis fire engines with green running boards. But what I remember most is the energy that filled the air. There was a level of excitement that rivaled the first concert I ever attended. My first FDIC was an experience I will never forget. From the opening ceremonies to the classes to the exhibit hall floor, it was all just so overwhelming for me. Unfortunately for me, as a young college student with limited means, I could not afford to go back to FDIC for several years. Once I got out of school and got a job, I was back on track. By this time, FDIC had moved to Cincinnati. The venue was new, but the experience was just as exciting. Making the trek to FDIC has become one of those good habits we develop in life. I also took along a contingent from my department to expose them to the best instructors and the latest innovations in the exhibit hall. In 2006, I got my first opportunity to be a presenter at FDIC, achieving one of my life’s greatest ambitions. It was a magical experience to be among the most elite instructors in the fire service. I have to admit, I was scared to death that no one would show up for my program. It all worked out and, with a few exceptions, I have been back to present at FDIC every year since. And each opportunity is just as special as the first. To say that Fire Engineering and FDIC have influenced my entire career would be a tremendous understatement. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the fire service!

Chief Shawn Oke, Albemarle (NC) Fire Department: Wow, I finally made it to “The Big Show!” Those were my thoughts as I walked into the Indiana Convention Center in 2015. I had been in the paid fire service for 26 years, and I was finally attending FDIC, and I was going to be a presenter! That day in 2015 ranks in the top five events of my great fire service career. 

In addition to presenting at FDIC, this was my first chance to attend “The Big Show.” I honestly had that glazed-over look at age 46 after seeing the show floor and attending classes. I am honored to be able to present at FDIC 2017 and say that I have a very small part in the 90th year such a great program exists. I am really hoping that my son, who recently went on the job, will be able to experience something his Dad didn’t get to experience, FDIC as a young career firefighter. If he is able to attend, I will be sure and look for that glazed-over look that I had when I first laid eyes on everything that FDIC represents. Thank you to everyone throughout the years who has worked so hard to make FDIC “The Big Show.”  

Fire Commissioner Thomas Merrill, Snyder (NY) Fire Department: The incredible FDIC experience has always been interwoven into the fabric of our firehouse. As a young firefighter, I would listen in awe as our department leaders came back from FDIC (then held in Cincinnati) all fired up, telling riveting stories of brotherhood, camaraderie, networking, and most of all the unparalleled training opportunities. They would bring back information, tactics, and strategies that they learned and practiced at FDIC for further evaluation. Many were adopted and worked into our SOPs and continue to be followed today. When I became an officer, I jumped at the opportunity to attend my first FDIC. I was hooked immediately! I now witnessed firsthand all the incredible training classes available. I remember being frustrated because there were more classes than there was time to take them (still true today). What impressed me more than anything, though, was the ability to rub elbows and freely mingle with the instructors, even long after classes were over. Firefighters from every department type imaginable—big, small, paid, volunteer, combination—mingling and networking with fire service legends and icons. Legends and icons who displayed incredible humility and exemplified the true meaning of brotherhood. True fire service leaders who thought nothing of taking the time to talk shop with simple volunteers like me at a local restaurant, FDIC-sponsored event, or even some random street corner. They were always there with a smile and hello to everyone they came across. One of my most cherished memories was having a quiet moment with the late great Andrew Fredericks [lieutenant, FDNY] during a break in the Engine Operations class he taught. What a great man. He easily could have simply hung out with his own peers and co-instructors. Yet, he thought nothing of taking the time to talk to me and to be genuinely interested in my department and our operations. That type of experience continues today, and I witness it every year at FDIC. With FDIC, you notice that friendly and inviting atmosphere carries over to the support staff and even everybody involved with the show. That’s how it is at FDIC. You meet firefighters who from then on can be considered friends for life. We call that the FDIC experience, and for anybody who has been there, you know all about the FDIC experience. It’s easy to see how FDIC has reached this incredible birthday milestone as strong and as influential as ever. The impact it has had on my firefighting career is immense. I am confident that impact and that influence will continue with firefighters for generations to come. Happy Birthday!

Captain Mark Gregory, Fire Department of New York: The greatest accomplishment that I have personally been able to witness from the inside is the preparation and operation of the FDIC hands-on training program. The months of work that are put into this program every year are quite evident. There is a reason instructors from across the globe submit proposals to teach hands-on training evolutions at FDIC. FDIC allows instructors to provide exceptional training to firefighters from all walks of life. The training that I have also received and the friendships I have made through FDIC are priceless. Our Man vs. Machinery program, like many other programs offered at Indy, are attended by more than 220 students each year. The difference this training has made is evident through the success stories we receive.

Chief Ron Kanterman, Wilton (CT) Fire Department: I went to my first FDIC in 1990; FDIC International 2017 will be the 27th time I walk through the doors. The first conference I went to was in Cincinnati, Ohio. I remember it well. There I was, walking the halls, going to classes, meeting people from around the United States, and starting to realize that this thing called FDIC wasn’t just a conference but a place to learn, share, and make life-long friends. You could meet fire service icons up close and personal. I remember meeting Francis (Frank) Brannigan, the “Godfather of Building Construction,” for the first time. How could this be? He was the guy in the magazine I read every month. How could we possibly be standing together in the hallway having a chat like he was my long-lost uncle? But he was talking, and I was hanging on every word. Every time I spoke with Frank as the years went on, he took me to school. So for a few years, I ran to “Cincy” to recharge my batteries and return to work, sharing what I learned and looking forward to next year. You go once, you just gotta go back. I taught my first class in 1997. I worked seven years on staff helping to produce the Opening Ceremony/Main Program. Working the shows and being back stage allowed full access to the stars for seven years: Manno, Downey, Brennan, Brannigan, Stapleton, Eversole, Dunn, Coleman, and so it went. Then I got to see the next generation come to the mic: Goldfeder, Lasky, Fredericks, and so forth. Having a conversation, exchanging ideas, and constantly going to school. You’re in school in the classrooms, the hallways, the main rooms, the back rooms, the bathroom (yes), the restaurants, and the taverns—for even in the taverns at night, you can walk by any table and hear a strategy and tactics discussion going on. That’s FDIC. No matter who you speak to or what the subject is, you go to school at FDIC. If you’re not, then you’re not getting the full effect of the conference. I’ve made friends and acquaintances over my 27 years attending, and some I only get to see annually in Indianapolis. I realized that going to Indy each year is my “family reunion.” It’s our family reunion. FDIC is the center of the universe for one week a year. I’ve met the best and brightest in our business in those long convention center halls and hope to be doing so for a long time to come. Happy 90th birthday, FDIC. Long may you wave.

Lieutenant (Ret.) David Gallagher, Huber Heights (OH) Fire Division: My first FDIC was in Memphis. I took a great forcible entry class and gawked at all of the vendors and apparatus. We even took in a midnight two-alarm fire. Then Cincy was close to home and I attended almost every year. Mark Chubb facilitated me into Indy as a roundtable participant, which then led to my being a H.O.T. instructor and my first national presentation of “Big Truck, Small Crew.” Then I served on the FDIC Board and went to FDIC West. A great run.

Chief (Fmr.) Richard Bartlett, Carlstadt (NJ) Fire Department: My first time at FDIC (Five Days In Cincinnati) was in 1987 with seven other instructors from the Bergen County (NJ) Fire Academy. I started going as an attendee and then several years after FDIC moved to Indianapolis I started to volunteer. I also had the pleasure to teach with a group of guys doing a H.O.T. class.

Chief (Ret.) Jim Silvernail, Metro West (MO) Fire Protection District: I have many fond memories of attending the early FDIC conferences. I have been retired after 48 years in the fire service with many of those years as training chief of our fire district. My first conference was in 1973. Our group from St. Louis County would take the train from St. Louis to Memphis, and we first stayed at the Pea Body and then later at the old Rivermont. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the conferences in those early years. I was a presenter in the ’80s on a large-scale hazmat involving a train derailment. It is totally amazing how the conference has grown to where it is today. I was so proud to have been a part of it through the years. My son Jim, who is chief in Kirkwood, Missouri, has taught classes at the conference now for more than seven years and has authored the book Suburban Fire Tactics (Fire Engineering, 2013). He is keeping our tradition of the FDIC moving on.

Division Chief Eddie Buchanan, Hanover (VA) Fire & EMS; past president, ISFSI: I was so clueless that I didn’t know what FDIC was before I went. I was a cocky lieutenant, newly assigned to the training division. The boss said, “Go,” and I said, “Yes sir!” I recall sitting on the plane next to my buddy and asking him, “So, what is this thing we’re going to? They have beer, right?” Needless to say, when we arrived, it was like landing on another planet. We were absolutely awestruck by the scope and scale of the conference. Aside from seeing all our heroes in person, we were most struck by realizing how our department fit into the mix. We met people who were light years ahead of us; then, we met some who were way behind. But mostly, we realized we were all in the same boat. That was 20 years ago, and I haven’t missed a conference since.  

Chief Steve Pegram, Goshen (OH) Fire and EMS; president, ISFSI: When I was around 20 years old, I was walking around FDIC with two of my mentors, Billy Goldfeder and John Buckman. We stopped to talk to Larry Davis at the ISFSI booth and John asked me if I was a member of ISFSI, which I wasn’t. John handed me the application; I filled it out and paid on the spot. Who knew 20 years later I would be on the Board of Directors of ISFSI, president for four years, and a speaker and board member of FDIC—all because a couple of chiefs took time to mentor a young kid who loved the fire service and wanted to be “involved”! Thanks, John and Billy!

Assistant Chief of Training and Prevention Becki White, Eden Prairie (MN) Fire Department: Unfortunately, my memories don’t go very far back, though I enjoy hearing everyone else’s stories. I had heard about FDIC when I started on our department, but we had travel restrictions so even our training officers couldn’t go. The year they lifted the restrictions, in 2013, I was selected to go along with the training chief, training captain, and a lieutenant. We attended the two days of hands-on sessions, and I was hooked! The hands-on regional training in our state was (and still is) very limited. Having access to top-class instructors who were teaching methods that they use successfully in their department or region was something that didn’t just enhance but catapulted my skills. We do a lot of hands-on training in our department, but the techniques are limited to what is (or has always been) done here. The FDIC classroom sessions were great, too, and provided a lot of information to follow up on and use when I train our department. I made a lot of great contacts that first year and years following—instructors and participants who are extended family. I reach out to ask questions and get ideas all the time, and they are always there to support and provide resources. Though I have been to FDIC for only four years (five this year), I have grown as a firefighter, a presenter, and a person as much as my network of other passionate firefighters and fire officers has grown. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to attend each year and capitalize on the knowledge and experience it provides for me.

Head Instructor Trainer Andrea Zaferes, Lifeguard Systems, Inc.: I remember walking down the corridors in the early 1990s and being in awe of all the energy, people, equipment, talks, books, knowledge to learn, and experiences to have. I remember thinking, “Wow! This is a world unto itself, of which I want to be a part!”

Kim Plash, Outreach Representative, Columbia Southern University: My first year at FDIC was 2007; we had a 10 x 10 booth in one of the smaller rooms off the hallway. I remember being in awe of how large the event was! The next year, 2008, we still had a 10 x 10 in that same room but had upgraded our display. That year, FDIC Education Director and Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton interviewed me about our fire programs, and it appeared on the Fire Engineering Web site. I think it was something our senior vice president, Chantell Cooley, had worked out with Bobby and then she was unable to make it, so I filled in. I have often wished that I had a copy of that early interview; it was the beginning of wonderful friendships with the Fire Engineering staff! We now have a 10 x 30 booth in the hallway and are working with Fire Engineering on Continuing Education opportunities. I just feel lucky to be a small part of the CSU/Fire Engineering working relationship.

Dr. Candice McDonald, Firefighter/EMT, Winona (OH) Fire Department: The investment in attending FDIC was life changing. I met a number of people in the fire service who became mentors and also have become my closest friends. My most memorable moment from my first time attending was participating in the 9/11 Stair Climb. Making the climb to honor those we lost was so emotional and something every firefighter should experience at least once. 

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Bill Shouldis, Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department: My best memory of FDIC was when I had the pleasure to meet Tom “The Truck” Brennan and Ray Downey for the first time. Great conversation with two legends. They both had an ability to translate emergency response experiences to educational training points that could be taken home. Both were very positive and supportive. As a new battalion chief, I was nervous about making a presentation.

Mark Wallace, Former Oregon State Fire Marshal; Fireeagle Consulting: I have lots and lots of great memories of FDIC over the many years I had the opportunity to attend and the distinct honor to be a presenter. My first FDIC was in Memphis, and I remember how in awe I was of all the great presentations. I remember being introduced to several fire service legends. I ran in the 5K race that year with hundreds of firefighters from throughout the country.

Gregory Noll, Senior Partner, Hildebrand & Noll Associates: My first FDIC was in Memphis in 1979. While the size of the venue was much smaller than today’s conference, the caliber of speakers and attendees and the impact it had on a relatively young firefighter were second to none. In short, if you wanted to know “who’s who” in the fire service, FDIC was the place to be. Imagine being a young fire instructor and having the opportunity to meet and talk to people who, frankly, established the foundation for what we take for granted today. I think of individuals like Lou Amabili (Delaware State Fire Training Director), who was a member of the America Burning Committee, Keith Royer (Iowa State University-Fire Service Extension), and Bill Clark (FDNY retired and Wisconsin State Fire Training). Likewise, there are also many other names from ISFSI that I could also add to this list—Ed McCormack (MA), John Leahy (FL), Jimmy Dalton (MD), and Bob McCloud (FL), to name a few. FDIC was the venue through which I met many peers of my age and generation who ultimately became fire service leaders later in their careers. This would include both Tom Brennan and Bobby Halton, both recognized for their tenure with Fire Engineering.

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Athony Avillo, North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire and Rescue: My first FDIC was in 1999. I was fortunate to be involved in the Truck Ops Search hands-on course. I worked with some great instructors like Mike Nasta, Joe Berchtold, the Alvarez brothers, John Hayes, and Jim Weiss. I survived the “morning fights” to give some great instruction to some great students. Also, I got to share the big stage at a high-rise roundtable with then FDNY Commissioner Tommy Von Essen. I gave my first class about the Chart House Fire. It was a great experience. I have been back every year since, but you never forget that first time.

Chairman/CEO Stewart G. McMillan, Task Force Tips: Kansas City was a single auditorium. Everybody heard the same presentation at the same time. They had a big stoplight on a stage, and when the speaker had five minutes left, it went yellow and then at the end of that it was red, and they shut off the microphone. You were done! I will share a personal story that was very funny for me. My Dad had a new chief’s car (a pickup truck with rescue body); he was exceptionally proud of the truck, and we drove it to FDIC. We pulled into a Dog and Suds drive-in. I asked to order a milkshake, which he quickly told me, “No way, son; you will certainly spill that.” (I was 14.) The idea did, however, catch on with him, and he ordered one, telling me that it was a case of “Do as I say, not do as I do.” Justice was sure and sweet. The car hop brought the tray; my Dad handed me my food with no issue. While reaching for his, however, he accidentally started to roll the window down. He made a desperate grab for the shake and bobbled it back and forth before losing it. It fell directly on the control head for the Motorola two-way radio. His hot dogs and fries were on the ground, and his shake was in the radio. I knew in an instant that to laugh was to risk death, so I kept my mouth shut. He was boiling mad for a few seconds until he realized the irony of what had just happened. From then on until he passed, all I had to do was say, “Would you like a chocolate shake?” and I could get him to laugh. 

Apparatus Supervisor (Ret.) Bill Peters, Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department: My first FDIC was out in Cincy! I went with the staff of Fire Engineering as a “show roadie,” helping to set up the booth! Never missed one since!

Sam Money, Volunteer, Eastern Kentucky University: My first FDIC was sometime around 2003 or 2004, when I went to the expo with my father and some other local volunteers. I have attended every year since 2009.

Captain Bill Hopson, Beachwood (NJ) Fire Department: My best memory was in 1996, first year in Indy. I was watching the Indianapolis Fire Department battle a two-alarm fire when Jerry Tracy walked by, introduced himself, and told me how incredible FDIC in Indy was going to be. In 2017, I will again seek Chief Tracy out to thank him for being right. Never would have imagined how fortunate I was going to be with all the great opportunities FDIC has provided me. I am forever grateful.

Dr. Burton Clark, EFO: In 1972 in Kansas City, I went for the Kentland VFD; I was also a District of Columbia firefighter. I went with Ken Elmore, who was a member of KVFD and a DCFD lieutenant. I was 22 years old. 1977 was my first FDIC presentation in Memphis on the DCFD Smoke Detector training program for firefighters, the first in the nation.

Pam Powell, former managing editor (retired), Fire Protection Handbook, National Fire Protection Association: My first FDIC was in Memphis in 1975 or 1976. My first presentation was the next year—on five-step planning for public education programs. I think Nancy Northcutt Trench, Pat Mieszala, Cathy Lohr, and I were the only women for a while.

Jan Thomas: My first one was 1976, shortly after going to work for Ed McCormack at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy (right out of college). He also ran the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, which at the time ran the FDIC. Over the next several years, I worked at a lot of them, managing PR and communications, including the ’80s, when we introduced a daily print newspaper, The Bugle, to the event, and then into the ’90s. I followed it from Memphis to Cincinnati to Indianapolis. I worked with Ed McCormack and then his wife Mary. That first time in Memphis was for me the beginning of a 30-year love affair with the fire protection community and its people.

Battalion Chief (Ret.) David Dodson, Response Solutions, LLC: My first FDIC was in 1985 in Cincinnati. I was blown away. My chief, Duncan Wilke, took me and pushed me to take in all that I could. He worked the vender booth for Fellowship of Christian Firefighters, leaving me to explore. The most profound memory was attending Frank Brannigan’s preconference workshop on steel construction, which changed forever the way I looked at buildings on fire. I taught my first FDIC class in 1991 (Cincinnati also), a class called “Preparing the Fireground Safety Officer.” I’ve only missed one FDIC since (for the birth of my daughter). Between safety officer classes and “Reading Smoke,” 2017 will be my 25th year presenting at FDIC! It is always an honor. FDIC has always charged my batteries—and still does!

Assistant Chief Douglas Cline, Horry County (SC) Fire Rescue: My first FDIC was in 1993 in Cincinnati. I went as an ISFSI FDIC advocate like the EKU students do now. I had a chance to be at a big event with a lot of big-name instructors when a guy in a Hawaiian shirt asked me about the music playing. Thankfully, I paid attention that day in my college music class. I answered him correctly and was on the main stage the next day being part of a Chief Alan Brunacini skit. I have been going ever since.

Rod Carringer, Chief Marketing Officer, Task Force Tips Inc./AMKUS Rescue Systems: My first FDIC with TFT was in 1987. Now as a young firefighter, I did attend conferences earlier, but the trade show component just did not match up to my schedule of going to class, drinking, sleeping—rinse and repeat. Now that changed (somewhat) after I hooked up with the early TFT team. This show was critical to us in the early days, as we tried to act much bigger than we actually were to attract dealers to represent our products. My earliest memories were of the preparations for the show—driving down, working hard, still playing as hard as I could, and of course rinse and repeat. There were a few fond memories: We found a great BBQ joint in an alley in the downtown Cincy area, next to a questionable massage parlor. We went for years but would never use their bathroom. Great ribs though. Ed McCormack for whatever reason felt all sales folks should somehow receive accreditation. And, he was just the guy to put that project together. I bit. Sat in classes. Took his tests and became a PEER reviewed certified sales demonstrator. I look back on that even today and smile. Enough so that I kept all the old certificates I “earned.” Oh, I paid for it, too. That was Ed. One year, one of the truck OEM folks hooked up the battery wrong in the truck and started a fire. With alarms sounding, Cincinnati engine companies arriving, guys in air packs working, we eventually were all asked to get out of the building. Once it was clear to go in, we went back and then were greeted with a 15-minute tongue lashing on the PA system indicating that as fire and emergency service professionals, we were idiots. I agreed; we were. An Indy story: One year, we hosted a number of Russian firefighters to both TFT and FDIC. Also that year, we thought it would be a great idea to host an event at HOOTERS—a wing-eating contest. We promoted it, and eventually the fire marshal restricted any more coming in as we overfilled the place. However, the real fun was watching all these firefighters eat plates full of nuclear tasting hot wings to win a T-shirt. The poor Russians were watching and filming all this to take home; watching the HOOTER girls and these guys eating wings must have set the Russian fire service back about 10 years. With this being my last official FDIC after 31 of them, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet some of the greatest folks—people who truly care and are passionate about their role in providing equipment and services to those in need. As a company and personally, this conference was instrumental in our organization’s growth.  In the earliest days, it was critical to our sheer existence; ever since, it has been the single most important domestic source for seeking new ideas, to see what our competitors are doing, what our dealers are thinking, and what talent we found that eventually could be part of the TFT team.

Battalion Chief (Ret.) Richard Fritz, High Point (NC) Fire Department: My earliest recollection was FDIC 1995, when I was invited out by the late Andrew Fredericks to teach with him and his crew at FDIC HOT. I could not believe it: I was about to meet the guys whose articles I had been reading for years: Ray Downey, John Salka, Tom Brennan, then Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bill Manning, and others who would become life-long friends. My biggest thrill was teaching and meeting firefighters from all over the country!

Captain Angela Hughes, Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department; President, I-Women; and 2017 Opening Ceremony Keynoter: I had been to a few other conferences that were in my area. They were good, but I used them as a basis to compare cost and benefit of traveling to FDIC. Huge mistake! My expectations were well surpassed. There were so many classes and knowledgeable instructors that I wished I had signed up for the preconference events. Being an avid football fan, I related it to going to the Super Bowl of fire service conferences. That will always be on my bucket list of things I want to do. Attending FDIC is on my “must-do list” every year!

Samuel Goldwater, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing, KFT Fire Trainers: My first FDIC was in Memphis. In those days, the FDIC was truly “for instructors only.” It more resembled today’s State Directors of Training meetings, with most of the kings of the fire service: John Hoglund of Maryland, Harold Mace of Oklahoma, Charles Page of Texas. Lou Amabili of Delaware, Don Dymes and Chic Granito of New York, Ed Bent of California, and Ed and Mary McCormick and Joe Donovan of Massachusetts. The conversations seemed to be around really big things like the Pro Board and firefighter certification. Technology by today’s standards was very basic, with instructors learning how to make better overhead transparencies and multiscreen 35mm slide shows. Maryland, Ohio, and other states were still producing their own textbooks on mimeograph machines. IFSTA, NFPA, and ISFSI were still trying to figure out what their roles were in the system. NFPA ended up defining what needed to be taught, IFSTA developed the training materials to teach it, and members of the ISFSI delivered the material (figuring that out was a big deal). We were arguing where the National Fire Academy—if we were to have one—would be located. There was a great argument for bi-coastal academies. We know how that worked out. State agencies would load up their vans with AV equipment and power drive to the FDIC in caravans. It truly was a group effort. The ISFSI took the lead on running the event with a lot of help from other organizations. Instructors would literally bring their programs and present them on the fly if they could get a time slot to present them. The trade show part of the FDIC was tabletops with IFSTA, Film Communicators, and the Roberts Company (the largest IFSTA distributor) being the first vendors. The evening entertainment was going to someone’s room or the hotel lobby and having several folks with guitars playing while we sang folk songs. IFSTA actually printed an IFSTA Songbook with all the words. It didn’t take long for word to get out about the event in Memphis, and the event outgrew the city. We then went to Cincinnati and then on to Indy. The trade show grew as the firefighter population grew. Vendors were looking for a place to go where they could catch a lot of firefighters, as each state and pretty much each county had an event—and it was killing the manufacturers. They hooked their wagon to FDIC and the IAFC. In those early years, the FDIC was the place, as today, to launch your new product. But we were at the interchange of technology meeting the fire service. Things were changing very quickly, and as you traveled through the displays, it was one new thing after another. It was a constant grabbing of friends and taking them over to a booth and saying “You have to see this.” Innovation was rampant. Technology was rampant. McDonnell Douglas one year presented the “flying fire engine,” the Suspended Maneuvering System (SMS), a fire engine that hung from a helicopter. Just as the FDIC was for giants in fire training, it was also for giants in the industry of fire protection–as all that innovation had to come from people, people who were so dedicated, in some cases, they mortgaged everything they owned to produce their widget. Everyone who taught, helped put on the event, or attended knew they were involved in something really important. Big decisions were being made then, decisions that have impacted us all the way until now. There was a drive to make each year bigger and better. And there certainly was an anticipation for seeing those friends you only saw once a year. 

Captain Rommie L. Duckworth, Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department: Although my first FDIC was only five years ago in 2012, I’ve been coming to Indianapolis every year since. I attend fire, rescue, and EMS conferences on a regular basis, and I had never seen anything like FDIC in my life. Tens of thousands of brother and sister firefighters from every background and from all over the globe converging in one place to share lessons learned, laugh over a beer or two, and make connections in a city that practically changes its name to FDIC-town for a week. What immediately impressed me was that for a conference presented by a publication 140 years old this year, the classroom information sought to bring firefighters to the leading edge of their craft, while at the same time events were held to honor the traditions that bind us together as brothers in service. While I haven’t been attending for as long as some, I plan on returning for many, many more years.

Anthony Chick Granito, Research Director (Ret.), National Fire Protection Association; Superintendent (Ret.), Nassau County Fire Service Academy; Deputy Superintendent, United States Fire Academy (1975-76): The FDIC in the early 1960s was sponsored by the Western Actuary Bureau (an insurance industry organization) and the conferences for many years in the1960s and later were held in the spring of each year in Memphis and co-sponsored by the Memphis Fire Department and its chief, Eddie Hamilton. Speakers were invited to present a topic to large audiences in the convention auditorium. The length of the speakers’ presentation was controlled by an onstage traffic light. Green, the speaker was fine to continue; yellow meant wrap up your talk; and when the signal went red, you were finished, like it or not, which was enforced by the MC, who came on stage and walked the speaker off. Those were the rough and ready days! 

Jack McLoughlin, CEO, Fire Research (sold to Safe Fleet): In 1968 the FDIC was held in Memphis. There was a small convention center, but there were no exhibits. Individual companies took rooms at the Peabody Hotel and showed their products in these rooms. The event was organized by the insurance industry. In the early ’80s, the chief engineer of the Memphis Fire Department exhibited its horse-drawn steamer—obviously, the days of horse-drawn were long gone, so no horses. They fired up the load of coal, and they would pump away, fed by a hydrant in downtown Memphis. Unfortunately, this could not be continued because of insurance regulations. They were afraid of the steam engine blowing up. Ed McCormack, the director of the Massachusetts Fire Service Academy, and Lou Amabili, the director of the Delaware Fire Academy, joined forces with a few other prominent fire management types to operate and expand the conference. The next year, they had a commercial exhibit in the basement of the hotel across the square from the Peabody. The exhibitors were Brady and Company, TFT, and Fire Research Corporation. The next year, the ISFSI rented the conference and exhibit hall. We stayed in Memphis for a couple of years and then moved to Kansas City. The show was moved to Cincinnati and then Indianapolis, which has proven to be a great choice. The conference was purchased by PennWell Corporation, and it has been running it like a Swiss clock. It is obviously the best attended learning experience for firefighters.

Lieutenant Michael N. Ciampo, Fire Department of New York; “On Fire” back-page columnist, Fire Engineering: “I have fond memories of teaching hands-on training in the Clear Stream vacant building development in Indy, where we could basically do anything we wanted to the buildings. We performed all types of truck company functions, from search to ladder, roof operations, and overhaul. They truly were the right kind of buildings for the right kind of truck hands-on class! As far as the lecture, my fondest FDIC memory was the first time I sat in on and got to listen to Tom Brennan, after reading his back-page column out of my dad’s Fire Engineering. His works grabbed my attention to learn, and his class was just as good. I remember how he could include street smarts and humor in all his works, especially sitting there with him and Bruno “Unplugged.” But perhaps my best moment with the legend was shaking his hand at FDIC and his talking to me personally with his words of wisdom and shaping me as a future boss and instructor.”

Captain Bill Gustin, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue; Technical Editor, Fire Engineering: On this 90th FDIC, I reflect on the first time I instructed a classroom session. It was in the 1990s when I received word that my classroom proposal was accepted; I was thrilled and bursting with pride. What made my first teaching experience more exciting is that John Norman would be following my class in the same room. As I was nearing the end of my presentation, I saw “The Man” standing in the back of the room; it was John Norman. I had read his book and all his articles, but this was my first opportunity to meet him. Since this was before computers, instructors would have to take their slide tray out of the projector and eject their VHS tapes at the end of their class to make room for the next instructor. While I was speaking with Chief Norman, I didn’t notice that a friend of mine removed my slide tray and gathered my VHS tapes. Without knowing this, at the end of my conversation with the chief, I ejected HIS video tape and took his slide tray, thinking they were mine. I remember his giving me a strange look as I was leaving the podium with his stuff. Well, so much for first impressions; I left a lasting one with John Norman. I will always be remembered as the knucklehead from Miami-Dade who tried to walk off with his slides and tapes. Those of us who have attended FDIC know that the learning and career enhancement do not end after a workshop, HOT session, or classroom presentation. FDIC brings the brightest and most motivated individuals in our profession together to forge life-long friendships and establish professional relationships. I have met some of my best friends at FDIC—firefighters from large and small fire departments across the United States, Canada, and throughout the world. Every year I look forward to meeting new folks to share ideas, discuss some of the problems our departments face, and network. Say, for example, that your department is experiencing problems with accountability or air management. Your solution may come from that guy or gal from Seattle, Edmonton, or Australia you met last year at FDIC.

Associate Professor Glenn Corbett, John Jay College, New York City; Technical Editor, Fire Engineering: One of my earliest and fondest memories of FDIC was the very first year it moved to Indianapolis. We stayed in the Canterbury Hotel; there was a lot of construction going on (the mall, etc.) between the hotel and the Convention Center. I remember Ray Downey running through the garage, which was under construction (where today the Steak and Shake is located), taking pictures for a collapse class he was putting together. It was, however, hearing Diane (Feldman) Rothschild screaming in pain as 40-mile-per-hour winds made the snow that was falling that day actually fly sideways into our faces. A lesson learned for us was to try not to schedule the show during snow season, particularly for the H.O.T. classes, when PennWell purchased the show from the ISFSI a short time later.