During the difficult process of choosing the 20 Legacies honorees, we had to pass over any number of influential fire service leaders from the past century. Over the next few months, we're honoring a small, select group of individuals who, although they didn't make the very top list, are more than worthy of recognition. Our regular series of Legacies profiles will resume later this year. -Scott Baltic, Editor

Curt Weldon (1947-) A former volunteer chief from Marcus Hook, Pa., Rep. Curt Weldon has been the fire service's champion in Washington since he first arrived in 1987. Soon after his election to Congress, Weldon created the Congressional Fire Services Caucus to promote greater awareness among legislators about fire and life safety issues. Similarly, he helped establish the Congressional Fire Services Institute, a non-partisan organization linking Congress with the fire service.

During his first years in Congress, Weldon pushed to reorganize fema, overhaul federal disaster programs, expand the use of sprinklers in public accommodations and federal facilities, and exempt chemicals essential for firefighting from phase-out provisions in the Clean Air Act. He was also the principal sponsor of the Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Bill of Rights, the passage of which in 1992 raised over $2.5 million for fire educational programs and fire training agencies.

More recently, Weldon has worked to ensure that first responders get the resources they need to deal with the threat of chemical and biological terrorism and the communications spectrum they need for day-to-day operations. He is also the lead co-sponsor of the fire Act, which will increase federal funding for the fire and emergency services. -Pete Peterson

James H. Shern (1924-82) Delivering the eulogy at the funeral of Chief Jim Shern, his friend Arnett Hartsfield stated, "On occasion, nice fellows do finish first." Shern's career included a great many firsts, all of which he deserved, and none of which came easily.

James H. Shern was born in Kansas City, Kan., at a time when segregation and racial prejudice were a part of life. His response to these pressures was to succeed. He earned an associate's degree in chemistry and a bachelor's in physical science before joining the City of Los Angeles Fire Department in 1948.

During his tenure in lafd, he organized the department's laboratory and conducted many research projects that were of national significance. As a fire protection engineer, Shern contributed many papers that helped validate code requirements and improve knowledge about complex fire problems, such as smoke tower performance in high-rises and fire protection for theatrical stages.

In 1972, after retiring from lafd as a battalion chief, Shern became fire chief of Pasadena, Calif. In rapid succession, he was appointed to the newly formed State Board of Fire Services, elected president of the California League of Cities/Fire Chiefs Division and elected as the first African-American president of the iafc.

When Shern died of cancer on Jan. 26, 1982, the fire service lost a leader, pioneer and gentleman. His warm smile and gentle nature belied the energy and intensity of a firefighter who refused to be held back by prejudice. -Ronny J. Coleman

Robert J. Quinn (1905-79) On Oct. 14, 1958, after several months of extensive experimentation, the Chicago Fire Department placed the first firefighting snorkel into service.

Commissioner Quinn had gotten his idea for the snorkel while returning from a fire call. He passed a downtown building where a Pitman Giraffe was being used by workmen who were cleaning a large electric sign. Noting the device's maneuverability, Quinn realized the great possibilities of similar apparatus in firefighting and rescue. "Quinn's snorkel," as it was nicknamed by Chicago press and radio, had amazing capabilities of reaching inside blazing buildings.

uinn was also an innovator in the air and on the water. Under his direction, a Bell 47 G-4 helicopter was purchased and placed into service in 1965. Quinn also introduced jet fire boats, which could travel up to 45mph and operate in just four inches of water. -Bill Norris

Charlie Rule (1936- ) At an age when the typical firefighter was coming off probation, Charlie Rule was a paid fire chief. The year was 1960, and the location was Greenfield, Wis. Only 23, Rule was a recent graduate of the Oklahoma A&M Fire Protection Program; a veteran of the Navy, where he had been a firefighter; and a former volunteer firefighter. By the time he retired as chief in Manteca, Calif., he had served as a fire chief for 34 years.

Though few can match that record, change, not tenure, was Rule's trademark. From the outset of his career, he challenged traditional ways and became a missionary for many programs that are taken for granted today.

In the 1960s, he was among the very first fire chiefs to lobby for residential sprinklers. His "Conditions of Employment Contract" that spelled out minimal medical, physical and performance standards was among the first of its kind. Its provision requiring entry-level firefighters to stop smoking was extremely controversial at the time, yet is now applied in many fire agencies. One of his most daring policies was the one that forbade any firefighter from initiating interior attack in a building with severe code violations.

Outspoken, argumentative and aggressive in his pursuit of ideas, Rule has forced many to be more-critical thinkers. He has been a leader to many, and an adversary to some, but has remained a professional through it all. -Ronny J. Coleman