David White was founder of Industrial Fire World. He published the newsletter and magazine for 35 years. (Photo: Courtesy of Lynn White) -

David White was founder of Industrial Fire World. He published the newsletter and magazine for 35 years. (Photo: Courtesy of Lynn White)

David White, founder of Industrial Fire World magazine, died on Feb. 12. He was 77.

Industrial Fire World started as a newsletter that grew out of White’s training and consulting business, Fire and Safety Specialists Inc. White published the newsletter and subsequent magazine for 35 years. In 2019, he sold Industrial Fire World to Bobit Business Media.

White was born April 27, 1945, in Mattoon, IL. His parents soon moved the family to McAllen, TX, where White grew up.

His interest in the profession of fire fighting began with service in a volunteer fire department. Then after graduating high school, he served for 12 years as a full-time municipal firefighter and trainer. He earned a B.S. degree in technical education from Texas A&M University and an A.S. degree from Blinn College.

White’s career in industrial fire prevention and fire fighting began with a six-month contract to help a Saudi Arabian oil refinery with fire protection training and emergency response training.

Returning to Texas, White married his wife Lynn Bourland, and they launched a fire response training and consulting company. White’s consulting work took him to 52 different countries, often as a speaker at training events.

In addition to his work on Industrial Fire World magazine, White also hosted the IFW Conference and Expo for 25 years. The Expo offered the first national and international forum to explore industrial fire and emergency response issues.

White was held in great respect for his work. He influenced the standards governing municipal and industrial fire protection education and training worldwide. He brought the importance of industrial fire training to the forefront in training municipal and volunteer fire services.

In 2014, White was presented the Red Adair Award at the Williams Fire & Hazard Control Xtreme Firefighting School. He also was honored in 2015 at the IFW Conference & Expo with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, the National Fire Heritage System inducted him into its Hall of Legends.

White is survived by his wife Lynn. The couple were married for 46 years.

He was a member of the Central Church of Christ in Bryan, TX.

Visitation will be held Saturday Feb. 18 at Central Church of Christ at 10:30 AM, with memorial at 11:30 AM, followed by burial at Bryan City Cemetery.   

Memorials can be sent to the National Fire Heritage Center, the Central Church of Christ Belize Medical Mission, or South African Bible College through Memorial Church of Christ in Houston.  

   

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