When Chief Riley came aboard from Linwood, he just sat in his office for 20 hours a day, planning. Tom Vandiver probably can answer you best because he was already a Chief. (Training Officer). As I remember----This beautiful powder blue blazer was what Chief Riley ordered for his new Staff Members to wear on duty. It was very well received by we new rookie staff members. Perhaps the most anticipated, the most welcomed and exciting first change Chief Riley made, after offering retirement to Clytie, was the transition to three platoon manning. Vandiver probably knew, but the rest of us greasy faced rooks had little idea we were about be promoted to Battalion Chief. I recall Captain Menasco lamenting; Me and Bud Campbell, Murray and Tozer and Jim Starr. A bunch of us Captains went to Chief Riley. We are the seasoned Captains, the backbone of the Department, all local men who grew up and were educated here in Anaheim. We are prepared and ready to help you move ahead with the Anaheim Fire Department. Few doubted that these experienced Captains would soon be offered the Golden Battalion Chief’s badge. Captain Tom Menasco continues---You know he said------Men, this is very difficult for me to say, and I know it will break your hearts, and I know you have been the backbone of the Anaheim Fire Department for many years, but I truly need your experience in the positions where you now are. I need new blood for management, I want the young lions clawing at the cutting edge to help me manage the Department. And so it was that Chief Riley gathered up a handful of gold badges and said; Vandiver, you are Operations Chief, Kanenbley, you are Fire Marshal, Thompson, you are Training Officer, and Hagan you and Weyland are Battalion Chiefs. A few weeks after that he presented the office staff with the new blue blazers. And we lived happily ever after parading around the other City Department meetings, public programs, and other official duties in our new blazers. And so it was in the mid 70’s. The old City Hall on Center St.(Lincoln Bl) and the Old Fire Headquarters on Broadway at Los Angeles St. (Anaheim St) Charlie K.
