FITZGERALD, William Robert

Prescott Courier, Prescott, Arizona Monday, November 15, 1954 A final tribute was paid to William R. Fitzgerald, former police chief of Prescott, on Tuesday morning when his relatives and friends attended the Requiem Mass conducted by the Rev. Joseph Muevo, CMF, in Sacred Heart church. He died in a local hospital Friday evening, failing to recover from the critical illness reported in The Messenger last week. Interment took place in Mountain View cemetery. Known and respected by many people in the city and county, Bill Fitzgerald was born February 8, 1889 in the little mining town of Goodwin, which was located 25 miles from Prescott in the Bradshaw mountains. He was a charter member of the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was also a longtime member of the Prescott Volunteer Fire department and a member of the Modern Woodmen of the World. His biggest hobby was mining. Bill Fitzgerald first went to work for the local police in 1913 when he served under Police Chief George Heisler. From 1924 to 1927 he worked in Jerome. He was the only one who worked straight through the years 1927 to 1948 in the local police force, and from 1936 to 1948 he was chief of police, a period of 12 years. A former member of the Knights of Columbus, he also proved greatly helpful at St. Joseph's Academy under the late Mother Victoria, who frequently called upon his willing services. Mr. Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Kathryn Margaret Fitzgerald, 306 S. Marina Street; two sons, William Patrick Fitzgerald, Downey, Calif., and John David (Jack) Fitzgerald with the U.S. Air Force stationed at David Mounathan Field, Tucson; one daughter, Mrs. Margaret O'Dell of Prescott; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Jackson of Prescott and Mrs. Ralph Young of Phoenix.