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While the members
of our family collectively share over one hundred
years experience in fire protection, it is because
of my father, Ted M. Bolls Sr., that we share our
heritage.
Ted began his
career in our industry in 1952 as an apprentice
sprinkler fitter employed through Local 483. Quite
coincidentally, his first job was working right down
the road at the Tracy Defense Depot. His only time
away from sprinklers was a brief stint in the U.S.
Army (1953-1955). When discharged, he went to work
for the Grinnell Company of the Pacific. He remained
there for 17 years.
In 1972, Ted and a
Grinnell co-worker, Roger Picard, started their
contracting company, Action Fire Control. After a
successful decade as contractors, they retired from
same in 1983. Retirement was however brief, and they
co-operated a sprinkler supply house in 1984.
The present
supply business was established by
Ted, and our mother, Marna, in 1986 in Fremont,
California. My brother, Ted Bolls Jr., was already a
fire protection contractor, operating in the same
city. We built our present day facility and
relocated to Tracy in 1990. My sister, Odile Bolls,
and myself operate the business along with Ted Sr.
Throughout the
years that Ted Sr. has been in our industry, many
other family members and friends have learned and
worked in fire protection. As one of the few family
owned and operated businesses today, we are well
aware that our livelihood is contingent upon keeping
abreast of changes and new technology. We look
forward to continuing to promote and work within our
industry in the years ahead in the new millennium.
(This article was
taken from the January, 2000 issue of FPC
magazine. The Author, Amy M. Donahoo, is with Action
Fire Fab & Supply Inc., Tracy, CA.) |
