Description

Bob Connell Jr.  was the Fire Chief of the Prescott Volunteer Fire Department from1921-1925.

Bob Connell Jr.  was born July 23, 1883 to Prescott pioneers, Robert and Hattie (Dennie) Connell Sr.. Bob Joined the Prescott Fire Department in 1911. He was a member of the "Dudes" hose team.  In 1930, while still a member of the fire department , Bob wrote a short history of the Prescott Fire Department for the Arizona State Fireman's Association. The chronicling  of the Prescot Fire Department was a pursuit he followed during his lifetime. Firefighter and medical tec, Eric Conrad Jackson , in the acknowledgments page of his book titled, "Prescot Fire Department,"  made a point to thank Bob, " Prescott Firefighters who came before me, who did their part in securing our lineage. Chief Robert Connell Jr. wrote down some of our earliest tales." (page 6, Jackson)

Bob was very active in other parts of the Prescott community, as a past exalted ruler of the Prescott B.O.P.E. Lodge # 330. He also served in the U.S. Navy and served in the Far East. During these years Bob resided at 242 S. Mt. Vernon Street.

Bob was married to Bonnie , who pre-deceased him in May 20,1960. He would die a year later in 1961. He was 78 years old at the time of his death. He was survived by two daughters, Roberta (Connell) Steffey of Summit, New Jersey and Anna (Connell ) Browning of San Diego, California.

Sources:

Prescott Courier July 11th, 1961

SHM Research Center, Prescott Volunter Fire Department Collection, MS-59

SHM Research Center, Historic Photo Collection , oversize photos

Jackson, E. C. (2014). Images of America: Prescott Fire Department .  Charleston , South Carolina, USA: Arcadia.