Chief Ed Kimbrough Memorial Scholarship - Crafton Hills College
Cadets with Chief Ed Kimbrough

About Chief Kimbrough

Chief Kimbrough was born in Queens, NY and later moved to southern California where he graduated from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena. He then enlisted in the US Army where he served 3 years with the 101st Airborne Unit (including deployment to Lebanon). The year after he returned, he married his high school sweetheart, Pauline. They had 3 children and were married for more than 56 years.

After returning home from the military, Chief Kimbrough went on to earn a degree in Fire Science from Harbor College. From 1973 to 1978, Ed worked for the Palos Verdes Estates Fire Department and became a Fire Captain/Paramedic. He then went on to work for the Gardena Fire Dept. from 1978-1980 and ultimately found his “home” when he was hired as the Fire Chief in the newly incorporated “City of Big Bear Lake” with the Big Bear Lake Fire Protection District, where he worked from 1980 until his retirement in 1998.

When the Crafton Hills College Fire Academy first began, Chief Kimbrough wanted to be involved. He sat on the Advisory Board for the very first CHC Fire Academy and was a priceless resource to both the cadets and the faculty in every way possible.  He had a passion for helping and a “whatever it takes” attitude to helping the cadets learn and grow. Ed volunteered to help with every academy until he became too ill to continue with his involvement.

Chief Kimbrough played an instrumental role in both developing the Academy and ensuring the success of many of its graduates. He was not only a mentor to the cadets, but to the program and faculty as well. Many of his contributions to the academy are still being used today to prepare future cadets for their careers in the fire industry.  

 

Purpose of the Chief Kimbrough Scholarship Fund

All gifts for this fund will be invested so that the scholarship fund can reach the endowment level (minimum $10,525.00). Once endowed, the interest earned from this fund will provide an annual scholarship to a Crafton Hills College Fire Academy cadet.

*If you would like to make a contribution to this fund in honor of another person, please let us know in the “Comments” section and someone from our office will contact you to coordinate your gift.