Unconventional Picks for And the Host City for This Year’s Convention is ...

By Penelope Soldan, Oklahoma Firefighter Editor

When Jim Ed Nimmo was sworn in as the 3rd Vice President in 2019, it was pretty much a given that the OSFA Convention in four years would be held in Tulsa.

After all, he has been with the Tulsa Fire Department since 2004. And the 11 previous Tulsa firefighters elected to the OSFA Executive Board held their conventions in Tulsa.

But Nimmo lives in Tahlequah. And retired Tahlequah Fire Chief Ray Hammons floated the idea of bringing the convention back to Tahlequah.

After all, Hammons, the 2009 OSFA President, held the 115th OSFA Convention in Tahlequah. And, according to reports, a great time was had by all.

“Honestly, I was surprised at the interest our brothers and sisters in Tahlequah expressed over the last couple of years,” Nimmo said.

“I talked it over with my Fire Chief, as well as our union president, and they were copacetic with it. I also ran it by Chief Casey Baker of Tahlequah to make sure he was down, because it entails a lot of responsibility.

“Ultimately, it is what I wanted to do. However, I did consult the largest stakeholders in the organization, which is the membership delegation at the last convention in Enid. They were kind enough to accept the idea, and that was that.”

Historically Speaking

This will mark Tahlequah’s third time as host city for the OSFA Convention.

Tahlequah Fire Chief Casey Baker served as a convention chair for Ray Hammons’ 2009 OSFA event. And 1992 OSFA President Robert Adrian brought the 98th OSFA Convention to Tahlequah.

Symbolism in Shirt Design

Nimmo has spent the majority of his 19 years with Tulsa FD at Station 7. On the Jack of Hearts design at right, which is featured on the official convention shirts, “E-7” is on the fire helmet. Other symbolic elements are “4099”(Tahlequah Fire’s local #) and “176” (Tulsa Fire’s local #). Asked if the firefighter artwork was modeled after him, Nimmo said: “Any likeness to me is purely coincidental.”

On the Cover

Nimmo personally picked the photo featured on this issue’s cover.

Jesus Nava, a volunteer and Captain at Tahlequah Fire, is shown at a structure fire in December of 2022. Nava, 31, joined Tahlequah FD in 2015. He is manager of Locke Electric in Tahlequah, has three children with wife Casey and coaches youth soccer.

Nimmo on OSFA Conventions

• The first I remember going to was I believe the 107th in 2001. I think it was Claremore’s convention, but it was in Tulsa at what I think was the Ramada out east at the 41st and Garnett area.