Submitted by his daughter

On a cold night on the first Monday in April 1981‚ a group of concerned citizens from the communities of Balsam‚ Willets and Ochre Hill met to discuss the possibility of forming a new fire department. All went well and the members of the communities were excited about having a fire department in the area. My father gave the department the land above his business to build the fire department on.

Daddy became the Chief in 1984. Under his leadership‚ the department grew and became a respected part of the Emergency Services in Jackson County. He began to plan and train for a medical first responder program. He was not able to see the program through to completion due to his death in February 1994 from Congestive Heart Failure while on a rescue call.

My dad was the greatest. I miss him so much and would love to have him in my life but God had other plans for him. Daddy died doing what he loved best and that was helping someone else.

He is survived by his wife‚ a daughter‚ three sons‚ one son-in-law‚ two daughter-in-laws‚ four granddaughters‚ one grandson and two great granddaughters.