Richard J. Dake‚ 48‚ volunteer firefighter‚ LaGrange Fire & Rescue Department‚ died March 4‚ 2002‚ when a train struck his tanker as he returned to the station after a live burn training exercise. He served with the department for two and a half years and had recently been certified to operate tanker trucks. He was retired from the U.S. Army and worked at a local corrections facility.

He was very‚ very goal oriented.