Tom Harris became Odessa's 3rd Fire Chief in 1939. This was also the year that the Fire Department changed from being all volunteer to 4 paid firefighter and several volunteer firefighters.
     The first four paid firefighters were Chester Frady, Chunky Hendrick, Oliver Moody and Ovid Bagby. Their salary  was $80.00 dollars per month.
     The first Central Fire Station was built in 1939 to house the 1st four paid firefighters and our 1927 Buffalo fire engine and the 1939 American LaFrance fire engine.