CORNELIA – Volunteer firefighter Capt. Bob Meister gave more than 60 years of service to the residents and businesses of Cornelia and now that service will be remembered for at least the next 50 to 60 years through the city’s new fire station.
Meister was a fixture on the scenes of fires, wrecks, and medical calls in the city for decades, officials said. He also was one of the oldest active firefighters in the state.
On Saturday, a crowd gathered outside the new Cornelia Fire Department South Station on South Main Street as city officials dedicated that facility to Meister.
“Personally, I think it’s one of the best things the city has ever done,” said retired Cornelia Fire Chief Frankie Smith. “Bob was dedicated to this department and this town. Back years ago, when we didn’t have a rescue unit, Bob would get out and go around and take up donations from the people because the city at the time couldn’t afford to buy one. He’s bought two or three rescue units for the city just by doing that, and that is dedication. You don’t find that many dedicated people like that.”
Meister died Dec. 23, 2018, at age 97. He remained active as long as he was able. City officials said Meister had 63 years of documented service to the department but believe it could have been 70 years.
Cornelia Fire Chief Billy Jenkins Jr. and City Manager Donald Anderson unveiled the plaque during Saturday’s dedication as Meister’s wife of 70 years, Charlotte, watched.
“It was so very nice, and he would have appreciated it so much,” Charlotte Meister said. “He loved the fire department. If the alarm went off, I knew the doors were going to open and he’d be gone.”
Others participating in Saturday’s dedication included Mayor John Borrow, Pastor Cynseria Jenkins, Engineer Chase West of Carter & Sloope, Chris Rithie of Cooper & Co., Cornelia Fire Department Assistant Chief Shane Bentley, and Jenkins.
Meister pre-dated Smith, who served as chief for 40 years at Cornelia Fire Department and served as a mentor for him and several generations of firefighters.
“Bob was here way before I came,” Smith said. “When I first came here as a teenage boy, Bob took me under his control and the first day I met him he became a friend and he’s been a friend ever since. He taught me a lot in the fire service.”
Several other Cornelia Fire Department retirees and former volunteers attended the dedication, including retired Assistant Chief Huey Patterson, retired Fire Marshal Jerald Palmer, firefighter Ricky Bennett and others, as well as current career and volunteer firefighters and responders.
Officials from other cities in Habersham County also attended.
Family members said Meister enjoyed putting on a fire department uniform and riding in parades and always enjoyed having his picture taken while wearing his uniform. But they said it was his servant heart that kept him responding all those years.
“He participated long before he retired,” Charlotte Meister said. “Once he retired, then he was just down here as a fixture more or less. He really did love the fire department and all of the fellas and he just appreciated what all they did for the community, and I think this is a nice thing to do to honor him.”
