“… Merle you really epitomize what it means to be a volunteer, a Bristolian and a legend in this community so we thank you for your service” were the words of Bristol Borough Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III speaking about the decades of service Emergency Management Director Merle Winslow gave before announcing his retirement last week. serving Bristol in that capacity for two decades.
Winslow joined the Bristol Consolidated Fire Dept in June 1964 after his Bristol High School graduation and started fire fighter training. He started working for U.S. Steel Fairless Works on April 1, 1965. Soon after, he was drafted into the United States Army in November 1965, going to Germany as a Morse Code Radio Operator. Serving two years in Germany, he was promoted to Sgt. E5 and discharged back to Fort Hamilton base in Brooklyn, NY in November of 1967, officials said.
He was asked to be a Borough Fire Inspector from 1967 to 1969 and then appointed Bristol Borough Fire Marshal from 1970 to 1977 after Borough Fire Marshal Wilbur Albright, borough officials said. In 1995, John Dougherty who was Bristol Borough’s Emergency Management Coordinator took the county coordinator’s position and as a result, Winslow became Deputy Coordinator in July 1995 working under Dennis Crilly, who became ill in 2003 and could no longer do the job. Mayor Joe Saxton asked Winslow if he would be interested in taking the Emergency Management position. Saxton made his recommendation to Council; Winslow’s name was sent to Harrisburg, was approved by Governor Ed Rendell in 2004 and has been the coordinator ever since, according to Bristol officials.
Credit: YouTube Screenshot
Winslow was a “quiet and humble man” that consistently demonstrated a commitment to solving potential upcoming hazards or making sure everything behind the scenes of the outdoor event season was in place working as it needed to be. You could always find him, if need be, with walkie-talkie in hand, safety vest on, baseball cap on head, surveying the area at the ready for any issue that needed to be addressed during the outdoor event season on Basin Street.
Winslow was instrumental in securing a generator for the Bristol Borough School District enabling Bristol High School to become a shelter in emergency situations and saving it about $100,00.00. The donation by the Dow Company came to fruition as a result of at least a year-long effort by Winslow, district officials said at the time.
“Merle has been a dedicated servant for the residents of Bristol Borough for many decades. He was a humble man, who always worked behind the scenes to keep the residents safe from unpredictable catastrophes, impeding storms or for the many joyful events held throughout the town. It’s going to take many of us to fill his shoes,” said Bristol Borough Fire Association president Steve Reeves.
He has been a tremendous asset in helping me as Borough Fire Marshal and Fire Chief by making sure that residents who were displaced by fire or other types of emergencies were provided with alternate housing. In addition, he assisted in fire investigations by obtaining the names and other background information of residents who were involved with the fire, Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack said. Adding Winslow’s “personal commitment to the safety and health of the residents involved in many projects during his time as EMC especially the various flooding issues, issues along the northeast train corridor and many more.”
The success of all of the major events; ethnic days, doo wop concerts, tree lighting, and parades are directly related to his efforts to ensure that the events were held with maximum safety of the participants in mind and went off smoothly due to Winslow’s leadership, borough officials said.
Now that job and responsibility falls to the deputy fire chief for Bristol, A.J. DeAngelis. In his last official act as coordinator Winslow recommended DeAngelis, with an important note included; He’s very knowledgeable and “most of all he cares about the town.”
Just like Winslow for the decades he’s served Bristol and the country.
Editor’s Note: Special Thanks to Bristol Consolidated Fire Company Station 50 for permission to use their photos in this story.