Remembering Bill McCormick

It is our genuine gratefulness and warmest regard that we dedicate Mountain View Fire Department’s newest AnchorRichey EVS built Tanker (126) to the memory of William “Bill” Ray McCormick (June 1937 – March 2021).

Bill McCormick was one of the founding fathers of Anchor-Richey EVS, Inc. alongside his business partner W. Matthew Richey. Prior to the formation of Anchor-Richey EVS, Bill and Matthew both owned and operated their own businesses while doing work for each other at separate locations in neighboring counties. In 1996 they decided to bring their two businesses together and form a corporation that would repair and manufacture fire apparatus, Anchor-Richey EVS, Inc.

Bill and Matthew worked together to grow the corporation during their 14 years in business before Bill retired in 2010 at the age of 73. Bill had a love for fire trucks, talking about fire trucks and selling fire trucks. It wasn’t uncommon for Bill to try to sell a fire truck to even the delivery drivers at the shop. His passion for fire trucks and customer service showed with his innovative and creative thinking to help design and build trucks to suit a customer’s need.

Bill’s passion didn’t stop there, he also had a special place in his heart for his hometown fire department, Mountain View Fire Department (Hickory, N.C.) where he was (recently) a member of the board. Bill was very proud to have several Anchor-Richey EVS brush trucks serving his hometown community. Bill also had an intricate part in the decision for Anchor-Richey to start manufacturing tankers as well and had always hoped that one day he would have one at his hometown station. That dream became reality in March of 2021 just a couple weeks before his passing, when the truck was delivered.

Recently, at the 2021 Annual Community Meeting of the Mountain View Fire Department, they unveiled their two new pieces of equipment and there was a special ceremony held to dedicate this tanker truck to the memory of Bill for his love and dedication to the Mountain View Fire Department and Anchor-Richey EVS, Inc. Bill’s wife, Barbara, children, and grandchildren were present for the dedication and the acknowledgment of this plaque.

Bill is greatly missed by everyone including those of the fire service and his legacy will live on for many years to come with this plaque displayed on the Tanker for its lifetime of service to the Mountain View community.

Front Left to Right: Shannon Hayes (Daughter), Isabella McCormick (Granddaughter), Barbara McCormick (Spouse), Mary Abernathy (Daughter-in-law), JR McCormick (Grandson). Back Left to Right: Rob Hayes (Son-in-Law), Diana Strickland (Daughter), Jimmy McCormick (Son), Bobby Abernathy (Son).