Chief Ben Alexander

Ben Alexander dedicated 31 years of service to the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District, including 16 years as Fire Chief. He assumed leadership of the department following the tragic death of Chief Howard "Cobby" Rogers in 1965 and guided the District through a period of significant growth and modernization.

Before and during his fire service career, Ben worked for Barber-Colman, served as a Village of Roscoe Trustee, and, in his younger years, played catcher in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. A proud World War II veteran, he served in the United States Navy, where he first learned the fundamentals of firefighting while combating shipboard fires in the South Pacific. After returning home from military service, Ben chose to use that experience to serve his community as a volunteer firefighter.

As Fire Chief, Ben led the department through a series of rapid changes driven by the area's continued growth. During his tenure, the original Station One was expanded, and the District opened Station Two in 1978 to better serve the community. Recognizing the evolving needs of emergency response, he oversaw the establishment of the department's medical division with the addition of trauma units and supported the creation of fire inspection and fire investigation bureaus.

Chief Alexander also recognized the importance of emerging communications technology and continually sought ways to improve response times by modernizing the department's communications equipment and operational capabilities.

When Chief Alexander retired on March 1, 1982, the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District had grown to include two fire stations and a fleet of 13 emergency vehicles, including a rescue boat and two grass rigs. His steady leadership, forward-thinking vision, and commitment to public service positioned the District for continued growth and helped shape the modern fire department that serves the community today.