Battalion Chief, Planning
Deceased:
April 19, 2019
Appointed:
04/30/1960
Pensioned:
07/01/1984 – Planning
Services:
PRIVATE
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
John Badgett says
To Ross’s family
I met Ross in the mid 70s when I was fairly new to the LAFD. He was my legal council through some difficult times, and he treated me like a friend and not simply a client. Over the subsequent years we worked around each other on the department and became friends. I always felt that Ross was one of the good ones and I’m truly saddened to hear of his passing. He’ll be missed and in the end, I think that’s one of the best compliments that any of us will ever get!
Sincerely
John (Dave) Badgett
LAFD Retired
Larry Mayer says
In the 70’s I spent a year at FS33 on two different occasions and Ross was my Captain II both times. He took good care of those assigned to him. I was working a 72 had little to no sleep on the first two shifts and by the last day was becoming unhinged. He could tell I was about to “go off” on a firefighter. So he put a firefighter on the RA, told him to take all the calls till midnight, and sent me to the Captains dorm and sleep in his bed. I got a call at 0030 hrs. I got around 4.5 hours of straight sleep, and it was enough to get me through another killer night at FS 33. Not many captains would do something like that, but Ross did. RIP sir, you were one of the bests.
Larry Mayer
Mary-Lynn Gregory says
I met Ross Williams when he was quite ill. I was just a visitor to his home accompanying friends of his. Mr. Williams treated me with kindness and sincerity. I was like a kid asking him questions about his career and he responded politely to my inquiry. He told me he had had a great life with little regret and I went away feeling I had met a fine man.
Michael Martin says
I first met Ross@fs 102a when he would work a “sod” with us as the “2” ( he was assigned to 89B
As true a gentleman and fire officer as you’ll hope to meet. At times he’d come to me and say “ I’m on the radio across the street@ Valley College for my sons baseball game and pick him up for a run
A couple years down the road he became Batt 14 B after I went to 89 B He had a place in his heart for 89’s
I could go on and on but Ross was the “one of the best to ever wear a gold badge. My condolences to the family and the LAFD as a whole because “they” don’t appoint people like Ross any more
melehr46 says
I worked for Ross from ’74 to ’76 at FS33A. He had his hands full with a very spirited but well trained crew. Back then it wasn’t unusual to respond from a structure fire to another and maybe another without returning to quarters, so I think Ross and the other skippers put up with a bunch of spirited horseplay due to the workload. On his crew then were Monty Majesky, Stubby Dills, Phil Gangwish, Denny Silgen and a host of others, including a constant parade of rookies, sometimes two assigned to the A shift at the same time.
Ross got even with our horseplay one time. He invited us to help him with his remodel in Westchester. Little did we know that it would include digging a deep trench for the new sewer line and transporting a brand new cast iron bath tube up to the second floor!
Ross was a gentleman and a great skipper who took care of his crew. I feel fortunate to have had the pleasure of working for the man. May he rest in peace.
robt262 says
I worked for Ross at 33’s after they open new 33’s,he was the TFC. We became friends there and stayed friends until he passed. He was my lawyer when I got my divorce.I was broke but he took me on anyway until I could pay. He was always a gentleman.WE had a long visit the month before he passed. Am I glad I took the time to go see him not knowing that would be the last.May he rest in peace.