Retired doctor follows boyhood dream
Dr. James Coleberd, 70, earns fire science degree
By: Angie Anaya Borgedalen
Like many little boys, James Coleberd wanted to be a fireman when he grew up. Most of all he wanted to earn a degree in fire science.
At 70, he now has that degree to hang on his wall along with his university and
medical school diplomas.
Coleberd, who lives in Hannibal, grew up in Liberty. As a kid, he was fascinated
with the fire department and the excitement of fighting fires.
“I'd jump on my bike and chase after the fire trucks,” Coleberd said.
“Afterwards we'd help roll up the fire hoses.”
With his pal, Harold McGuire, the two took credit for saving the then-Sigma Nu
fraternity house on North Water Street. “In those days everybody pitched in to
help,” Coleberd said.
McGuire said the two ran up to the fire and decided to crawl into the
smoke-filled house while firemen were in the back of the house. The boys found
the source of the fire in a coal bin in the basement.
“We told them that we found the fire, but I don't think they believed us,”
McGuire said. “They handed Jim a red hose and he dragged it in and we opened up
the nozzle and put out the fire. They didn't even say thank you. I think they
were probably embarrassed.”
Officially, Coleberd started his professional firefighting career with the
Liberty Fire Department in 1954. With Fire Chief Leo Jackson as his mentor, the
station house became Coleberd's second home.
As a Liberty firefighter, Coleberd helped fight three major fires: the 1948
Banks-Wilcox Lumber Company; the 1955 Hughes McDonald Dry Goods fire on the
north side of the Square and a second fire in 1954 at the lumber company.
Young and adventurous, Coleberd was also the first to climb the 75-foot Seagrave
Aerial Ladder Truck during training on the Square and then in fighting a fire in
Excelsior Springs. The next day they fought a fire at Miller's restaurant on the
Square.
Never one to stay away from fires, Coleberd worked for the Lawrence Fire
Department while he was a pre-med student at the University of Kansas.
Coleberd became the fire chief in Clinton in 1963 before going to medical school
at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. At the time, Coleberd
said there were only two colleges that offered the fire science degree and there
was a two-year waiting list.
When Liberty celebrated its septaquintaquinquecentennial (175 years) in 2004,
Coleberd returned after 50 years and again climbed a fire truck ladder in front
of the former Eisen's building at the northwest corner of Main and Kansas
streets.
After retiring after 35 years from his medical practice and as an emergency room
physician, Coleberd achieved his life-long dream in May when he earned his
Associate Degree this spring in fire science from John Wood Community College in
Quincy, Ill.
“My wife told me I better not be thinking about going to law school or seminary
school,” he said.
When he graduated, Coleberd sent announcements to his old firefighting buddies.
Liberty Fire Chief Gary Birch sent him a graduation gift, a firefighter T-shirt.
“He's always kept his ties to us,” Birch said. “It's great that he finally
achieved his dream.”
Meanwhile, Coleberd has been appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt to the newly created
10-member Missouri Medal and Valor Review Board. Once the group organizes, it
will be looking for heroes to recognize. Coleberd also said he planned to do
some writing.