On May 5, 2008 Chicago-area firefighters and emergency personnel joined representatives of The Dow Chemical Company and Union Pacific Railroad to honor Chicago’s late Fire Chief, John Eversole, for his lifelong dedication to public service, safety and security. A ceremony was held at the site of the Chicago stop of the 2008 TRANSCAER Training Tour.
The ceremony brought industry, government, chemical and railroad leaders together who have been influenced and inspired by Chief Eversole’s leadership. The event featured the dedication of a customized safety train serving as mobile safety classrooms and training facilities; the donation of $15,500, to the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation for the Chief Eversole Endowment for Hazmat Emergency Responders, by CSX Transportation, Dow Chemical, National TRANSCAER® and Union Pacific; and remarks from Chief Eversole’s colleagues.
“Chief John Eversole was a champion of hazardous materials transportation safety and security,” said Henry Ward, director of transportation safety and security, The Dow Chemical Company. “So it is very appropriate to honor him by dedicating this Hazmat Safety Train in his name.”
Following the ceremony, the newly dedicated Chief John Eversole safety train continued its journey to provide railroad and chemical transportation training to local firefighters and other emergency response personnel at the Chicago rail yard and then West Chicago. The training sessions included a variety of classroom and simulated activities that focused on railroad equipment training, hazardous material training and advanced training with interactive emergency response drills.
To donate to the Eversole Endowment fund, please visit the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation web site.
