Chief Biographies
Kenneth L. Waldvogel
Official Photograph, SCCFDFire Chief Ken Waldvogel has been in the professional fire service since 1976, and with the Santa Clara County Fire Department since 1978. He has held several ranks within the organization including Firefighter/Engineer, Fire Inspector, Fire Prevention Supervisor, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief of Operations, Deputy Chief of Training, Assistant Fire Chief, and Acting Fire Chief. Chief Waldvogel holds an Associate in Science Degree in Fire Technology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Administration. He is a graduate the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program. The California State Board of Fire Services has certified Chief Waldvogel as a Fire Officer and as a Chief Officer, and the Commission on Chief Officer Designation International has certified him as a Chief Officer Designee. He is a member of the Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs' Association, The Institute of Fire Engineers, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Society of Executive Fire Officers.
Benjamin F. Lopes III
Official Photograph, SCCFDChief Lopes has been in the fire service with County Fire since 1972. On special assignment from March 1994 through December 1995, Chief Lopes dealt with strategic planning, including regional fire service issues, fire service based paramedics, and annexations. Chief Lopes is a member of many fire service organizations, including the State of California Fire and Rescue Service/FIRESCOPE Board of Directors. He is the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal and serves as Santa Clara County Area Fire and Rescue Coordinator, responsible for all fire mutual aid in Santa Clara County. Chief Lopes' education includes a Master's Degree in Human Resources and Organization Development, and he is certified as a "Chief Officer" by the State Board of Fire Services. Chief Lopes has served as a Chief officer since 1981, directing both the Training and Operations divisions and later serving as Assistant Chief. He has authored management articles and instructed at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland; California Fire Academy at Asilomar, California; and at the community college level. 
all photos from the collection of Richard RavizzaFour photos of the Cupertino Station crew, with firefighter Lopes. Color photos are dated Aug 1974. Upper left photo: Captain Ravizza (left), FF Lopes (3rd from left); upper right photo: FF Lopes 3rd from right; lower left photo: FF Lopes 3rd from left. Lower right photo shows FF Lopes with the muster team, circa 1974; FF Lopes center, Ravizza 2nd from right. 
from the collection of Jim Ackley
Second annual Chili Cook-Off, 25 April 1982. Left to right: Dennis DeMelloPine, Kevin Dennis, Ben Lopes, Steve Stockman.
Douglas G. Sporleder
Official Photograph, SCCFD
SCCCFPD 1993 Annual Yearbook
Chief Doug Sporleder was born in Los Gatos, California and began his career as a firefighter in 1963. Chief Sporleder, along with his brother Steve, are third generation firefighters. Their grandfather Louis Omer Sporleder became a volunteer fire fighter in Los Gatos in 1901 and rose to the level of Assistant Chief. Following in his father's footsteps, Louis Omer, Jr. joined his father in fire fighting in the 1930s, also rising to the rank of Assistant Chief. With Chief Sporleder's retirement, and his brother's recent retirement from the Saratoga Fire Department, this marks the end of one hundred years of consecutive fire service in the Sporleder family. Chief Doug Sporleder worked alongside his father at Los Gatos and Steve and Doug both worked in the fire service together. 
SCCFD Archives
Growing up in Los Gatos with a father and grandfather in the department it would seem natural to follow in his family's footsteps, but Chief Sporleder originally had plans to teach history. He was able to accomplish both roles as he moved from the ranks of firefighter to Captain at Shannon Station. He eventually left Shannon to fulfill his role as teacher as the training Chief. He was then promoted to Assistant Chief, and then to the rank of Fire Chief in 1980. 
SCCFD Archives
Chief Sporleder was also the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal and the Area Fire Coordinator responsible for all fire mutual aid in Santa Clara County. His educational accomplishments include B.A. and A.A. degrees, as well as graduate-level course work in fire department management. Chief Sporleder was a member of many fire service organizations, including the Governor's Special Arson Task Force and the State of California Fire and Rescue Service/FIRESCOPE Board of Directors. Chief Sporleder retired in Dec 2001.
Gordon C. Payne
SCCCFPD 1993 Annual Yearbook
both from the collection of Jim Ackley
At award presentation, 1972. Gordon Payne started fighting fires in 1946, working summers with the state Division of Forestry. He was a volunteer firefighter in the Burbank Fire District from 1950-1954, when he joined the Central Fire District as a firefighter. He was promoted to Captain three years later, in 1957. He was promoted to Battalion Chief on 1 Apr 1962, and on 2 Aug 1970 he was made a Deputy Chief. He became Chief Engineer on 1 Oct 1975, where he served until retirement on 26 Feb 1982. At the time of his promotion to Chief, he had 201 men, 13 stations, and 52 vehicles in the department.
Curtis J. Kirby
Uniformed photos: from the collection of Charlie Mingroni; portrait: SCCCFPD 1993 Annual Yearbook
Curtis Kirby was a roofing foreman in the Santa Clara valley working with Vern Fowler. One day while enroute to a roofing job they stopped at the Cupertino Fire Station to get directions to a street. After chatting with the firefighters on duty they learned that Central Fire was accepting applications for employment. The job sounded pretty good, so they applied. Both men were hired on July 1, 1952 as firefighters. After only seven months, Kirby was promoted to Driver/Engineer, and held that position until July 1, 1955. 
from the collection of Jim Ackley
Kirby in quarters, 1953. Because of his extreme interest in training and fire prevention, he was appointed to Captain/Assistant Training Officer when Ed Severns made Battalion Chief/Director of Training. Part of Captain Kirby's responsibilities in this new position were to cover the district as Acting Battalion Chief. Bayshore City (now the Visitation Valley section of Daly City) was protected by the Bayshore Fire District which was primarily a volunteer department with three paid men and a volunteer Chief. As the City grew, more attention was required for the Chiefs position, so the volunteer Chief was hired as a full time paid Chief. The City continued to grow with several big industrial plants and warehouses, to the point that the Underwriters took notice, and went to regrade the City in 1956. After the Underwriters (National Board of Fire Underwriters) made their investigation, they told Bayshore City that as things stood, they would be dropped to a class seven or eight rating. the Underwriters made some recommendations, one of which was that Bayshore City hire a consultant to straighten out their affairs, and that they would come back in a year for final grading. So in 1956 Bayshore Fire District hired Chief Cuff, retired Fire Chief of the Menlo Park Fire Department as a consultant. Chief Cuff recommended Captain Kirby for the job of Bayshore Fire District Chief, and the District commissioners agreed. Captain Kirby didn't want to leave Central Fire, so he requested and was granted a 90 day leave of absence from Central Fire District. While at Bayshore Fire, Chief Kirby established the administration, training, fire suppression and fire prevention programs so that operations could continue. The district became primarily a paid department supplemented by volunteers, and through his efforts they were able to maintain a class five rating. Chief Kirby remained at Bayshore City for five years. Due to climatic conditions that effected the health of his family, Chief Kirby left Bayshore and returned to Central Fire as a firefighter on December 15, 1961, and was reassigned into the training division. In April 1963 Kirby was appointed as Training Officer (two steps above Captain), then in June 1965 he was again advance to Battalion Chief/Training Officer, - the position he held until his appointment to Deputy Chief under Chief Luhring in July, 1969. Upon the retirement of Chief Luhring on 2 Aug 1970, Chief Kirby was appointed as Chief Engineer for the Central Fire District. Since taking over that position, Chief Kirby has developed an administrative staff to be responsible for the various divisions of the District in order to permit more effective operations of all duties. Chief Kirby also developed a "five year plan" to have a minimum of three men assigned to every company. 
from the collection of Jim Ackley
Chief Kirby and then-Deputy Chief Payne (sans mustache), August 1970.
Fred M. Luhring
SCCCFPD 1993 Annual Yearbook
from the collection of Jim Ackley
Chief Fred Luhring, July 1970. Fred M. Luhring was appointed as a firefighter for the City of San Jose Fire Department June 15, 1937, and started on the job that same day. He remained with San Jose for over ten years gaining experience as a firefighter, and also working as an acting Lieutenant for San Jose Fire Department. Due to political differences he left San Jose Fire in the latter part of 1946, and started to work for the Moffett Field Fire Department as a firefighter. After a short time at Moffett Fire Department Luhring returned to his original trade as a plumber and worked at a wholesale plumbing house here in the valley. In December 1947 Chief Henry Lingua approached Luhring and asked if he would consider coming to Central Fire District as his Assistant Chief. On 1 Jan 1948 Chief Luhring was appointed as Assistant Chief for the Central Fire Protection District. Upon the retirement of Chief Lingua, Fred Luhring was appointed as Chief Engineer, the position he held until his retirement on 2 Aug 1970. After leaving the department the Chief enjoyed his retirement, camping, hunting and fishing at every opportunity.
Henry C. Lingua
SCCCFPD 1993 Annual Yearbook
left: from the collection of Jim Ackley
right: from the collection of Ray MaherLeft photo December 1962. Right photo, Chief Lingua in his car. Photo 1952. Henry C. Lingua started his career in the fire service with the City of San Jose Fire Department on 1 Jul 1922 and was elevated through the ranks to the position of Assistant Chief, the position he held until his resignation on 24 Nov 1944. He served as Assistant Chief with the Moffett Field Fire department during 1945 and 1946. Chief Lingua was appointed Chief Engineer of Central Fire Protection district on 1 May 1947. As Chief, he earned $400 per month to start. At that time, a new house in the valley could be purchase for about three to four thousand dollars. He retired in 1963 after over 40 years of active fire service. Upon his retirement the County Board of Supervisors appointed Chief Lingua to the Board of Fire Commissioners of Central Fire District. He served as a fire commissioner from 4 Feb 1963 up to the time of his death on 1 Jan 1969. 
both photos from the collection of Richard RavizzaTwo photos of Chief Lingua and then-Assistant Chief Luhring. The right photo shows Chief Lingua receiving a rifle as a retirement present from the department staff, on 14 Jan 1963.
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