IAFF 7th District Vice President Emeritus
With great sadness and deep respect, the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters announces the passing of IAFF 7th District Vice President Emeritus James “Jim” Hill.
Jim was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1939, the same year the WSCFF was founded – a fitting start for a man whose life would become deeply intertwined with the labor movement, the IAFF, and the WSCFF. Jim served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard, worked at Boeing, and in 1963, joined the Tacoma Fire Department.
In 1974, Jim was elected President of IAFF Local 31 Tacoma. Three years later, he became Vice President of the WSCFF, and in 1980 he was elected IAFF 7th District Vice President, a position he held until he retired in 1998. Among his proudest achievements was negotiating the first contract for Local I-66 Boeing following its affiliation on May 2, 1996.
Jim’s contributions to the WSCFF and the IAFF 7th District, combined with his decades of leadership and advocacy, left a lasting impact on the fire service, helping build a stronger union and future for firefighters throughout the region.
We mourn the loss of this true gentleman, who was as kind as he was tenacious, and honor his legacy. Generations of firefighters are better off because of his service. He will be deeply missed.