
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 29, 1995                   TAG: 9503290095
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`BUSTER' CRONISE DIES AT 83; FOUNDER OF FINCASTLE FIRE CREW

Malcolm "Buster" Cronise, a former Fincastle town council member who helped found the fire department and rescue squad, died Monday.

Friends say Cronise spent a good portion of his 83 years in service to the Fincastle community.

"He was an avid seller of raffle tickets and barbecue tickets - for any fund-raiser, be it a church or the fire department," said Bill Simmons, who worked with Cronise in the fire department.

Born and raised in Botetourt County, Cronise was town council treasurer in Fincastle for about four decades.

In 1948, he raised money and gained community support for a volunteer fire department.

"The only equipment we had then was a pressure tank," Simmons said, "so Buster would pull it around behind his truck."

Cronise was the first fire chief, serving for 34 years. About the time he retired, the fire department had bought a new engine - and named it "Buster."

Cronise also helped establish the rescue squad in 1979.

by CNB