11th Annual Ed McGuire Memorial Culligan Cannonball 5-K Run: Saturday November 5, 2011

Edward Gordon McGuire
July 21, 1939 – April 12, 2000

Ed McGuire graduated from the Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1957, and attended Southern Connecticut State University. He served in the US Army in Germany as a radio operator until 1964. Upon returning from his tour of duty, he became a supervisor at Becton Dickinson Company in North Canaan. Within a few years he owned and operated the Falls Village based Culligan Water Conditioning of Litchfield County and New Haven County. McGuire ran Culligan Water Conditioning with his wife, Hazel, for over 30 years. During his career with the company, he earned many awards and much recognition for his success and outstanding business practices.

Dedicated to public service, Ed was the first member of the Canaan Fire Commission, and went on to become the commission’s chairman. He was the burning official for the Town of Canaan for many years. He was a member and chairman of the Recreation Commission and the Democratic Town Committee in Falls Village. He was a member and served as President of Eastern Water Quality Association. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge #372 in Torrington, CT.

Ed McGuire was an active member of the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department (FVVFD) in the northwest corner of Connecticut, and the department’s chief from 1979 to 1989. He also served as the company’s treasurer, deputy marshal and was on the board of directors. In addition, he participated with the Falls Village Ambulance Squad as an emergency medical technician for many years. Ed also served as Fire Marshal of North Canaan, Deputy Fire Marshal for Canaan-Falls Village and was the President and Financial Secretary of Litchfield Fire Chief’s Emergency Plan. Ed’s dedication to the wellbeing of his town and its residents was continuously demonstrated.

In 2000 Edward McGuire was honored posthumous with the Falls Village public service award. Sponsored by the Culligan Water Company, the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department has been holding the Cannonball 5-K Run every October. This annual fundraiser, organized by Ed’s family and friends, is in honor of one of our communities outstanding citizen who to-this-day continues to contribute to the town and Volunteer Fire Department that meant so much to him.