Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson welcomed a large crowd to a ceremony on Saturday to rename Fire Station 5 at the Galveston County Justice Center in honor of Danny Weber, Sr., a former firefighter and fire chief who also served as a member of Galveston City Council and mayor pro tem.
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“I would like to welcome everybody this morning to our first fire station dedication in Galveston Fire Department history,” Robinson said, before introducing Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wisko, the master of ceremonies, who called on the Fire Department Color Guard to present the colors; and then introduced former fire chief Mike Varela, who delivered the invocation.
Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski, who had served on the city council with Weber and ran against him for mayor, had praise for Weber’s public career.
“How fitting that his name would be on this building,” Jaworski said, noting Weber's accomplishments. “He would have been a great mayor.”
Council Member Rusty Legg, who had made the motion at a city council meeting to name the station for Weber, delivered a brief, but emotional, speech.
“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the dedication and to honor a man who has given so much – years of devotion - to Galveston,” Legg said. “His legacy of goodness and commitment to Galveston continues in his children and grandchildren.”
“He was always there for us,” said current Fire Chief Jeff Smith, recalling Weber’s leadership in the fire department. “As a battalion chief he always had our back. Countless lives were saved because of who he was, how he commanded, and how he instilled his beliefs on the firefighters. There are members in this room who would be dead right now if it weren’t for Danny Weber.”
“To have a station bear Dad’s name is impressive,” said Captain Danny Weber, Jr., who works at the station. “I see it fitting. I also see it as something that would humble him to his core. We are going to continue to strive to make him proud.”
“The day I met Danny was the day that my life changed,” said Jessie Rubio, Weber’s son-in-law. “He gave me my beautiful bride, great mother-in-law. He was a mentor to me in the fire service and as a man.”
Juan Peña provided the photos and audio for this report.