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Clarke Palmer, the last
living corporate founder of the Gowans-Knight Company, passed away on March 11,
2007. Clarke was not just a fabricator; but a fabricator of ideas who was
constantly looking for a better way to accomplish the tasks at hand. The
corporation he molded from its infancy in 1954, a welding and metal fabrication
business grew into a Fire Apparatus manufacturing facility.
In 1963
Clarke was called upon by the Northfield Fire Department to design a fire
apparatus for their department with a budget of $2,500.00. Clarke took on the
challenge and accomplished the task in a timely manner. Word of Clarke's first
fire truck spread and it wasn't long after that Clarke was approached by other
departments requesting apparatus designed to their specific needs.
As
the demand grew Clarke changed the direction of the corporation from general
welding / fabrication to a manufacturer of fire apparatus and a distributor of
firefighting equipment. In the early 70's Clarke became a dealer for Oren Fire
Apparatus of Roanoke, VA as well as Ladder Towers, Inc. of Ephrata, PA. He also
started to refurbish apparatus.
In 1985 another decision was reached
to solely sell and produce fire apparatus and distribute firefighting related
equipment. At this time the GK logo came into being. Clarke's son Craig, one of
four children, had joined the business and in 1986 they, father & son,
bought the remaining stock and Gowans-Knight became a family business.
Clarke's life has been one of dedication, not only to his family, but to
firefighters both as a designer / builder of fire apparatus and as a volunteer
firefighter. Clarke joined the Watertown Fire Department in April 1953, became
a Lieutenant on Engine 6 in 1955 and a Captain on Engine 5 in 1958; Clarke
transferred to Veteran Status in 1974. He will be greatly missed by his family,
all here at Gowans-Knight, and the Watertown Fire Department. |
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