Published: October 17, 2009 06:52 pm      

A towering figure: James E. Kron Training Tower named for former Georgetown fire chief

The smile on the faces of James Kron’s wife and daughter showed how moved they were when a plaque donning the name of the former Georgetown Township Fire Protection District’s was revealed Saturday.

It fronts the refurbished James E. Kron Training Tower, a memorial to a man who spent more than 50 years fighting fires and protecting the communities where he lived and worked.

But the tears running down the cheek of Sandy Kron, the widow of the late chief, proved the sting of his January passing is still prevalent.

“Jim gave his whole life for firefighting — he loved the fire department,” she said moments after the ceremony announcing the new title of the training center concluded.

She put her arm around the couple’s daughter, Nikki, and gazed at the tower that will remind current and future firefighters of Kron’s commitment not only to the residents he served, but also the men and women he served with.

“We’re just very honored,” she said.Kron worked for Georgetown for about two years before he died suddenly at the age of 66. He served for several years in New Albany before joining the Georgetown outfit.

Kron’s impact was exemplified through the more than 50 firefighters and emergency medical personnel on hand for the ceremony. They came from Jeffersonville, New Albany and Greenville. The Lafayette Township Fire District was represented, and of course Georgetown.

Kron “was one of the most highly respected firefighters that I’ve ever had the privilege and honor of working with,” stated Georgetown’s new fire chief, Rick Bader, in a letter read aloud by one of the district’s lieutenants.

Ironically, Bader was dispatched in response to a fire and could not attend the dedication. One firefighter said Kron “wouldn’t of had it any other way.”

The tower was retooled mainly through a $100,000 Indiana Department of Homeland Security grant, which Kron played a vital role in securing for Georgetown.

Naming the facility after Kron was a logical choice, Bader stated.

“He spent his life training firefighters to be better,” his letter read.

The tower will help “to ensure firefighter safety is maintained at all times” for Georgetown and other fire departments in the region, said David Probo of Homeland Security.

The tower is located at the Georgetown district’s Station 2, off of Corydon Ridge Road.