This gentleman, Earle Roberts, was Fire Chief for San Diego Fire Department from 1980-84, later Saudi Arabia, and after that held the same post in Madison, WI for 10 years. Tom Packard and I were Organization Development consultants to a major culture change project led by Earle. He was a great leader and is still fondly remembered in the department.

From a consultant's point of view, he was an ideal client possessing the values and skills that support a cultural shift in a department that traditionally was very hide-bound.

Today Tom and I had lunch with him for the first time since he left the SDFD.