Former GB fire chief dies
STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Minshull

The city lost a well known leader in Robert G. Minshull when he passed away late Friday, Jan. 11.

Minshull was born in New Rochelle, N.Y. on April 25, 1932. Upon moving to Gulf Breeze with his wife Mary, he joined the city's volunteer fire department. As a textile engineer and Purchasing Agent at Monsanto, he often lent his expertise and know-how to fire department projects.

Minshull was an Emergency Medical Technician and became Chief of the Gulf Breeze Fire Department in 1989. He served as Chief until 2005. The number of hours he spent on fire scenes, rescue efforts, hurricane preparedness and training are hard to estimate.

Minshull also served on the Gulf Breeze City Council from 1976 - 1980. He served as an Auxiliary Police Officer and completed as stint as Interim Police Chief in 1993.

Minshull helped the City with its FEMA paperwork after Hurricanes Erin and Opal in 1995. He helped secure a grant for the purchase of the city's fireboat.

Minshull's impact and legacy in the City of Gulf Breeze will live on for many years. He helped train many of our current firefighters, helped raise funds to purchase our first Jaws of Life Rescue Tool and built a large portion of the infrastructure of the Fire Department.