Jimmy Cox, a veteran stationed in Kingman for much of his time with the Army Air Corps, stayed in Kingman to work and raise his family. He served twenty-two years as a volunteer with the Fire Department, the last years as assistant chief. Eleven acclaimed firefighters, two members and nine volunteers of the Kingman Fire Department died as a result of a disastrous fire and explosion that ripped apart a railroad tanker car filled with propane gas as it was being off-loaded.