About the Harper V.F.D.
The Harper Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) was established on March 5, 1940 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. HVFD started with one fire truck parked outside a filling station on Main Street (US Hwy 290) and a group of local residents with the idea to protect the lives and property of Western Gillespie County. At that time, the closest fire suppression help came from Fredericksburg. With the road system of that time, travel time could be well over an hour due to poor roads.
The volunteers for the most part farmed or ranched in the area and some worked in the City of Harper. The important point is they were quickly available if an emergency arose.
HVFD has continued to expand and modernize its equipment over the years. Currently, the department has one main fire engine, a rescue/pumper engine, three brush trucks, two tankers, and a command vehicle. HVFD is now the first responder to approximately 9,000 residents over 505 square miles of rural ranch and farm land. In addition to the designated area of coverage, the department has mutual aid agreements with six other departments and Kerr and Kimble Counties which more than doubles the effective area of coverage.
The below chart lists the officers of HVFD since 1940.
The Harper V.F.D. Team
The team at Harper Volunteer Fire Department is made up of dedicated volunteers who proudly serve with courage, compassion, and professionalism. From seasoned firefighters to new recruits, each member brings unique skills and a shared commitment to protecting our community. Whether responding to emergencies, training for the unexpected, or supporting local events, our team works together like family—always ready to answer the call, day or night.
1940
President
C. H. Barrett
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Asst. Fire Chief
W. O. Grosenbach
Secretary / Treasurer
Frank Staudt
1941
President
C. H. Barrett
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Asst. Fire Chief
W. O. Grosenbach
Secretary / Treasurer
Frank Staudt
1942
President
C. H. Barrett
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Asst. Fire Chief
W. O. Grosenbach
Secretary / Treasurer
Frank Staudt
1943
President
Bill Kaiser
Fire Chief
Alfred Lehne
Asst. Fire Chief
W. O. Grosenbach
Secretary / Treasurer
Frank Staudt
1944
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Secretary / Treasurer
Frank Staudt
1945
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Secretary / Treasurer
Joe Kaiser
1946
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Vice President
C. W. Barrett
Secretary / Treasurer
Joe Kaiser
1947President
Roy Roberts
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Vice President
Neal B. Fox
Secretary / Treasurer
C. W. Barrett
1948
President
Neal B. Fox
Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Vice President
Roy Roberts
Captain
Floy Bode
Secretary / Treasurer
Edwin Klein
1949
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
Edwin Klein
1950
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Asst. Fire Chief
Bill Kaiser
Vice President
Roy Roberts
Secretary / Treasurer
Edwin Klein
Captain
Fred Wedikind
1951
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Asst. Fire Chief
Clifford Bode
Vice President
Roy Roberts
Secretary / Treasurer
Edwin Klein
Captain
Dayton Rahe
1952
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Roy Roberts
Secretary / Treasurer
Edwin Klein
Captains
Richard Roeder & Roy Roberts
1953
President
Gene Harper
Fire Chief
Roy Roberts
Secretary / Treasurer
Elmer Lange
1954
President
Elton Spencer
Fire Chief
Floy Bode
Secretary / Treasurer
Clifford Bode
1955
President
Elmer Lange
Fire Chief
Floy Bode
Secretary / Treasurer
Clifford Bode
1956
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
Elbert Feller
1957
President
Floy Bode
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
Elbert Feller
1958
President
Richard Roeder
Fire Chief
Elmer Lange
Secretary / Treasurer
George Parker
1959
President
Elbert Feller
Fire Chief
Floy Bode
Secretary / Treasurer
Charles Bierschwale
1960
President
Elbert Feller
Fire Chief
Robert Lehne
Secretary / Treasurer
Charles Bierschwale
1961
President
Robert Lehne
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Charles Bierschwale
1962
President
Alfred Spaeth
Fire Chief
Elmer Lange
Secretary / Treasurer
Emil Wahrmund
The First Miss Flame
Doylene Parker
1963
President
Hubert Rahe
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Emil Wahrmund
Miss Flame
Peggy Feller
1964
President
Emil Wahrmund
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
Alfred Spaeth
Sergeant-at-Arms
Charles Bierschwale
Miss Flame
Jaydean Peril
1965
President
Elmer Lange
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
Doug Tatsch
1966
President
Delton Wilson
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Martin R. Fiedler
Miss Flame
Barbara Peril
1967
President
Jim Mahon
Fire Chief
Elbert Fiedler
Secretary / Treasurer
R. E. Peril
Captain
ChesterTatsch
Miss Flame
Nancy Feller
1968
President
Douglas Tatsch
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
LawrenceMetzger, Jr.
Fire Marshal
Elbert Feller
1969
President
Alfred Spaeth
Fire Chief
Richard Roeder
Secretary / Treasurer
Alfred Spaeth
Miss Flame
Jennifer Jones
1970
President
C. H. Bierschwale
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Ronnie Lumpkins
Fire Marshal
Alfred Spaeth
1971
President
Clark Bierschwale
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Howard Sivells
Fire Marshal
Alfred Edwards
Miss Flame
Linda Kensing
1972
President
Levi Kensing
Fire Chief
Darrell Holmes
Secretary / Treasurer
Felix Klein
Fire Marshal
Gene Tatsch
Miss Flame
Brenda Lange
1973
President
Jim McMahon
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Alfred Spaeth
Fire Marshal
Darrell Holmes
1974
President
Darrell Holmes
Fire Chief
Gene Tatsch
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Elbert Feller
1975
President
Darrell Holmes
Fire Chief
Gene Tatsch
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshals
Larry Jung & Ronnie Lumpkins
1976
President
Jim Bob Stevens
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Paul Lang
Fire Marshal
Ronnie Lumpkins
Miss Flame
Sheila Maner
1977
President
Jim Bob Stevens
Vice President
Felix Klein
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Paul Lang
Fire Marshal
Ronnie Lumpkins
Miss Flame
Joyce Lang
1978
President
Ronnie Lumpkins
Vice President
Felix Klein
Secretary / Treasurer
Paul Lang
Fire Marshal
DarrellHomes
1979
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
Ronnie Lumpkins
Fire Chief
Gene Tatsch
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
David Hallenbeck
Miss Flame
Adie Klein
1980
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
Felix Klein
Fire Chief
Jim McMahon
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
David Hallenbeck
Miss Flame
Raynette Hartman
1981
President
Boyce Grona
Vice President
Elmer Lange
Fire Chief
Gene Tatsch
Secretary / Treasurer
J. W. Mielke
Fire Marshal
David Hallenbeck
Miss Flame
Becky Lang
1982
President
Darrell Holmes
Vice President
Elmer Lange
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
John Mielke
Fire Marshal
David Hallenbeck
Miss Flame
Kim Matranga
1983
President
Darrell Holmes
Vice President
Boyce Grona
Fire Chief
Elbert Feller
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Bruce Giannini
Miss Flame
Romona Fritz
1984
President
Kelton Kramer
Vice President
Paul Lang
Fire Chief
Tom Scollard
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Mark Frances
Miss Flame
Degari Dykstra
1985
President
Kelton Kramer
Vice President
Charles Dykstra
Fire Chief
Howard Sivells
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Ernie Dykstra
Miss Flame
Monica Shaughnessy
1986
President
Jim McMahon
Fire Chief
Gene Tatsch
Secretary / Treasurer
Paul Lang
Fire Marshal
Ernie Dykstra
Miss Flame
Sonja Stevens
1987
President
Elbert Feller
Vice President
DarrellHomes
Fire Chief
Gene Tatsch
Secretary / Treasurer
Lou Garza
Fire Marshal
David Hallenbeck
Miss Flame
Jackie Hallenbeck
1988
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
Daniel Rech
Fire Chief
David Hallenbeck
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Ernie Dykstra
Miss Flame
Eileen Hallenbeck
1989
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
Richard Brondo
Fire Chief
Ernie Dykstra
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Daniel Rech
Miss Flame
Tanya Rodriquez
1990
President
Richard Brondo
Vice President
Daniel Rech
Fire Chief
Richard Rangel
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
David Hallenbeck
Miss Flame
Jayln Ernst
1991
President
Daniel Rech
Vice President
Ernie Dykstra
Fire Chief
Richard Rangel
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Tim Mulebrad
Miss Flame
Roxanne Lumpkins
1992
President
Tim Mulebrad
Vice President
Troy Armke
Fire Chief
Kelton Kramer
Secretary / Treasurer
Wendy Garza
Fire Marshal
James Lenz
1993
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
Troy Armke
Fire Chief
Kelton Kramer
Secretary / Treasurer
Wendy Garza
Fire Marshal
Ernie Dykstra
1994
President
Elmer Lang
Vice President
Lou Garza
Fire Chief
Richard Decker
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
James Lenz
Miss Flame
Sheri Evanoff
1995
President
Jeffery Ryan
Vice President
Grant Meyer
Fire Chief
Richard Decker
Secretary / Treasurer
Milton Wendel
Fire Marshal
Mark Tatsch
1996
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
Kathy Armke
Fire Chief
James Lenz
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Darrell Homes
1997
President
Ernie Dykstra
Vice President
Kathy Armke
Fire Chief
James Lenz
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Darrell Holmes
Miss Flame
Leah Smith
1998
President
Ernie Dykstra
Vice President
David Jung
Fire Chief
Michael Manning
EMS Coordinator
Wendy Garza
Secretary / Treasurer
Kathy Jung
Fire Marshal
Quent Bratcher
1999
President
Paul Lang
Vice President
David Jung
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
Wendy Garza
Secretary / Treasurer
Kathy Jung
Fire Marshal
Quent Bratcher
Miss Flame
Ashley Townsend
2000
President
Milton Wendel
Vice President
Kelton Kramer
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
David Jung
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
James Lenz
Miss Flame
Sarah Jung
2001
President
Philisha Barker
Vice President
Kathy Armke
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
David Jung
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Josh Bratcher
Miss Flame
Tanya Starks
2002
President
Philisha Barker
Vice President
Kathy Armke
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
David Jung
Secretary / Treasurer
Kittie Conner
Fire Marshal
Josh Bratcher
Miss Flame
Brooke O’Toole
2003
President
Michael McMahon
Vice President
Kathy Armke
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
Philisha Barker
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Josh Bratcher
Miss Flame
Shelley Barker
2004
President
Michael McMahon
Vice President
James Lenz
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
David Jung
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Josh Bratcher
Miss Flame
Tia Taylor
2005
President
Michael McMahon
Vice President
Terry Theis
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
David Jung
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Josh Bratcher
Miss Flame
Kayla Nunnemaker
2006
President
Michael McMahon
Vice President
Terry Theis
Fire Chief
Robert Bowers
EMS Coordinator
David Jung
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Josh Bratcher
Miss Flame
Shelby Campbell
2007
President
Homer Pugh
Vice President
Michael McMahon
Fire Chief
Joe Foster
EMS Coordinator
Kim C. Long
Secretary / Treasurer
Irene Masters
Fire Marshal
Kim A. Long
Miss Flame
Jamie Nigh
2008
President
Michael McMahon
Fire Chief
Brent Hammons
EMS Coordinator
Kim C. Long
Secretary / Treasurer
Gary Potter
2009
President
Michael McMahon
Fire Chief
John Tittle
EMS Coordinator
Kim C. Long
Secretary
Okie Jackson
Treasurer
Gary Potter
2010
President
Richard Cowie
Vice President
Philisha Barker
Fire Chief
John Tittle
EMS Coordinator
Homer Pugh
Secretary
Kittie Conner
Treasurer
David Kemp
Fire Marshal
Ron Long
2011
President
Richard Cowie
Vice President
Philisha Barker
Fire Chief
Gary Potter
EMS Coordinator
Homer Pugh
Secretary
Kittie Conner
Treasurer
David Kemp
Fire Marshal
Ron Long
2012
President
Grant Meyer
Vice President
Philisha Barker
Fire Chief
Gary Potter
EMS Coordinator
Homer Pugh
Secretary
Kim C. Long
Treasurer
David Kemp
Fire Marshal
John Tittle
2013
President
Grant Meyer
Vice President
Philisha Barker
Fire Chief
John Tittle
EMS Coordinator
Homer Pugh
Secretary
Kim C. Long
Treasurer
David Kemp
Fire Marshal
Joe Foster
2014PresidentCharles Sander Vice PresidentPhilisha Barker Fire ChiefBrent Hammons EMS CoordinatorCatherine Kuhlmann SecretaryKim C. Long TreasurerDanny Criswell Fire MarshalGrant Meyer
