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Chief John M. Eversole
Endowment for Hazardous Materials Responders
In 2007, YLD created the John M. Eversole endowment with the generous support of family, friends, hazardous materials professional associations and corporations from across the United States. The Endowment supports awards and scholarships designated specifically for members of the hazardous materials response community.
Throughout his career Chief Eversole was a giver, and mentored a significant number of people in the emergency response world. He served his entire career with the Chicago Fire Department, rising through the ranks from firefighter to Chief of Special Operations. He was the founder of the department's Hazardous Materials Response Unit and was widely respected as a leader, innovator, and proponent of firefighter and hazmat responder safety issues. As Chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Hazardous Materials Committee, he frequently testified before Congress on Homeland Security and firefighter safety issues. He was an original member of NFPA-472 (HazMat / WMD Response Technical Committee) and served as Chairman for over 10 years.
To honor Chief Eversole and continue his legacy, the YLD Board is accepting applications for a scholarship in his name. The intention of the scholarship is to provide assistance to an individual or organization that desires to pursue training or educational activities related to hazardous materials or WMD response. The selection criteria include:
- Individuals applying for the Chief Eversole scholarship should be a member of a hazardous materials response team, or be involved in a hazardous materials/WMD response mission.
- The type of activity covers a broad spectrum of possibilities, but the scholarship committee will award the scholarship based on the declared need, ability to further enhance a person or organizations ability to respond to a hazardous materials or WMD incident.
- Persons who are able to take lessons learned and apply them department wide or regionally are encouraged to provide this information as well.
- Activities that result is a broad impact across the hazardous materials response community are encouraged.