Alabama Leader Loses Life to Cancer

July 8, 2008 – Hundreds of fire fighters, family and friends gathered July 7, 2008, at the Pine Crest Funeral Home in Mobile, Alabama, to pay their last respects to one of the state’s most celebrated fire fighter leaders. Marvin Weekley, 74, died July 2 from cancer.

Full fire fighter honors were extended to Weekley, who served as president of Mobile, AL Local 1349 for four years in the early 1970s and subsequently as president of the Professional Fire Fighters Association of Alabama for 15 years. Weekley was also an IAFF state representative for 10 years. Separate from the IAFF, he helped create and served on the Alabama State Fire Fighters Standards Commission.

IAFF 14th District Vice President Danny Todd was friends with Weekley for 30 years. “It is important for our younger members to understand that Weekley and others from his era made huge sacrifices so that future fire fighters could enjoy the benefits they have today,” he says. “He was a great leader for Alabama and will be missed.”

When Weekley began his career as a fire fighter in Mobile, he quickly gained the reputation for having incredible instincts. But his legacy would be his uncanny ability to lobby for fire fighter-friendly legislation and fight for improved benefits.

“Every active and retired fire fighter in Alabama has benefited from the Weekley’s hard work and dedication,” says Terry Lilley, former president of Mobile Local 1349 and an active retiree. “Even after he left his last IAFF office, he continued to lobby for fire fighters.”

Weekley has been credited with the successful lobbying of the state Heart and Lung bill, legislation allowing fire fighters to participate in political campaigns and legislation calling for fire fighter pay parity with police officers. He was also instrumental in putting a retired fire fighter on the state pension board and other pension reforms.

On May 17, 2008, the former IAFF leader had a seizure. While investigating the cause, doctors discovered that Weekley had very advanced cancer. His condition never improved before his death on July 2. He is survived by his wife, Shannon, son, Mark, and daughter, Nicole.