Adam Longo was a native of Cody‚ Wyoming. He graduated from Cody High School and then spent a brief stint in the U.S. Army. He returned to Cody‚ where he lived and worked until he moved to Casper‚ Wyoming‚ to begin college‚ pursuing a degree in criminal justice/law enforcement.
After graduation in 2002‚ he began as a trooper with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. He was stationed in Jackson‚ Wyoming‚ then transferred back to Casper‚ where he served until 2009. He received numerous accolades and awards while working for the Patrol‚ including the Luke Schalund Medal of Life Award.
In 2009‚ Adam returned to school to pursue his second degree in fire science‚ while working for a local plumbing company‚ CK Mechanical‚ as an apprentice plumber. When he had just a few semesters left in this program‚ he began working at Wyoming Medical Center as an EMT-B on the ambulance service and volunteered at Evansville Fire/EMS. He also completed the requirements to teach CPR for the American Heart Association through Wyoming Medical Center and was looking forward to instructing classes.
In July 2011‚ Adam began his career with the Natrona County Fire District and was doing a great job of learning the ropes. Adam had barely turned 31 years old when he suffered a stroke responding to a grass fire in April 2012. He was nine months into his probationary period as a firefighter with Natrona County Fire District. He spent six days in the ICU at Wyoming Medical Center‚ where he underwent surgery. He was moved to the neuro unit and died the next day.
Adam was involved in a variety of activities including hunting and fishing‚ model railroading‚ gun collecting‚ and weightlifting. In 2007‚ he won second place for his weight division at the International AAU Powerlifting competition in Las Vegas‚ Nevada. He also participated in various Highland/Celtic games around the region and was a weightlifting coach for Special Olympics of Wyoming.
He was married to Jennifer‚ and they were just two months away from their eight-year anniversary when he died. They had two dogs‚ Trooper (a yellow lab) and Hunter (a chocolate lab). Adam was a jokester and was always pranking his friends and co-workers. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor‚ his laugh‚ his positive impact on others‚ and his outlook on life.
Charles Kuhns was born April 10‚ 1927‚ to James and Goldie (Brown) Kuhns in Bullskin Township‚ Fay County‚ Pennsylvania. He married Mary (Behan) Kuhns on June 14‚ 1951 in Denver‚ Colorado and they had five children: Charles M. Kuhns (retired Battalion Chief)‚ Eileen M. Lee (Office Manager)‚ Mary M. Spirakus (Electrical Engineer)‚ James M. Kuhns (retired Fire Department Lieutenant and Volunteer Assistant Fire Chief)‚ and John M Kuhns (Electrical Engineer). Charlie enjoyed his family and looked forward to spending time with his grandchildren.
After completing grammar school and working as a lumberjack he enlisted in the United States Army on June 19‚ 1945. His enlistment was for the duration of the Wars. After three years of service with the U.S. Army Charlie was honorably discharged to begin a career with the United States Air Force firefighter.
Charlie wanted to be a firefighter because he loved helping people and working with his hands. He completed his GED‚ basic firefighter training‚ fire prevention‚ fire protection supervisor‚ fire investigation and the Air Force Fire Chief courses. Charlie strived to assist others by evaluating new crash and structural firefighting equipment‚ automatic sprinkler systems and fire warning systems.
Technical Sergeant Kuhns enjoyed solving problems to make others’ lives better. While assigned to Ladd Air Force Base‚ Alaska he noticed that access to water in the Chena River was a problem in the winter. During the long winter season‚ when the Chena river is frozen over‚ this became a serious and an expensive problem. Four airmen were detailed six hours per day‚ seven days per week from November to May to cut open and maintain established holes in the river ice. He invented a device that allowed a standpipe to be installed‚ which proved an ample source of water at all times‚ saving the U.S. Air Force thousands of dollars.
Charlie spent twenty-three years in the United States Air Force for nineteen years he served as either Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief in the Panama Canal Zone‚ Alaskan Air Command‚ Nellis Air Force Base‚ a missile base in Germany‚ Colorado Springs‚ Colorado‚ Tule Greenland‚ and Cheyenne‚ Wyoming. After receiving many accommodation medals for his service‚ he retired from military service in 1968 as a Senior Master Sergeant.
Throughout his life he has been continually placed in leadership positions. He accepted the position of Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal for the State of Wyoming from 1968 to 1973. From 1973 to 1974 he was the Life Safety Consultant for the Department of Health for the State of Wyoming. During this time Charlie authored a Guideline for Medical Facilities‚ Disaster and/or Evacuation Plans for the State of Wyoming‚ which was published and distributed in the states of Wyoming‚ Colorado‚ and Utah.
Chief Kuhns continued his work as a Department of Defense firefighter by accepting a civil service fire fighter inspector position in Colorado Springs‚ Colorado in 1974. Later‚ he accepted the position of Fire Chief for F.E. Warren Air Force Base with the 90th Civil Engineering Squadron work hard until his death.
Charlie was a family man. He loved his sons‚ daughters and grandchildren Charlie was always willing to show off his hunting and fishing abilities. His life was cut short‚ but we thank God every day for the memories we have of him. He is loved and greatly missed by all.
Robert Henderson‚ 38‚ was an Assistant Lieutenant with the Evanston (Wyoming) Volunteer Fire Department. He died in a smoke explosion while searching for children reportedly trapped in a burning townhouse‚ on April 18‚ 2005.
A volunteer firefighter for over 11 years‚ Robert took advantage of the many training opportunities available to him and became an EMT in 2000. His skills as an EMT served him and the community well as he was often the first to arrive on a scene – whether on duty or not. Robert was honored posthumously as Wyoming EMT of the year for 2005‚ receiving the Pete Vase Award. He was also honored twice as Firefighter of the Year‚ for the Evanston Fire Department. His work as an EMT and firefighter opened doors for him to volunteer as a medic for the 2002 Winter Olympics‚ participate in the Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery‚ and to work many western forest/wildland fires.
Robert’s first love was his family. Whether it was family activities‚ school‚ sports‚ or scouts‚ he was always there for his wife of 15 years and his children‚ aged 12‚ 8‚ and 6. Robert also loved hunting‚ fishing‚ paint ball‚ camping‚ and anything that took him outdoors. He served his country for eight years in the US Army‚ reaching the rank of Sergeant and was a veteran of Desert Storm. Robert will also be greatly missed at the Evanston Post Office where he worked for the last 10 years.
Robert’s life always involved giving‚ whether it was to his family‚ his many friends‚ his community‚ or his country. His passion was the fire department and his bravery won’t be forgotten.
Jacob Earl Cook‚ 23‚ Firefighter‚ Evanston Volunteer Fire Department‚ died April 18th‚ 2005 while looking for children in a burning apartment building. Jake had been with the department for two years and had just passed the test to receive his Firefighter Two License. Jake was an avid hunter‚ taxidermist‚ and outdoorsmen. Jake was married just three short weeks before his death. Jake was a friend to everyone who knew him and his death was felt by the entire community.
Jake had an enthusiasm for every aspect of life. He was willing to try anything and he always included his entire family in every new activity‚ from paintball tournaments to weekend hunting trips. He will always be remembered for his incredible smile and his quick laugh.
Roger ‘Bo’ Rathbun‚ 69‚ a 50-year member of the Sundance Volunteer Fire Department‚ died on November 8‚ 2000‚ of burns suffered while fighting a forest fire one month earlier. After serving in the military during the Korean conflict‚ he joined his father in farming and ranching the land his grandfather homesteaded in 1883.
Alan Lee Mickelson‚ 36 years old‚ died in the line of duty after a church roof collapsed and he fell 40 feet. Unknown to the firefighters‚ the fire had been burning for seven hours in a concealed area between the ceiling and the roof area‚ before the fire was discovered.
Alan was a plant mechanic for Amax Coal Company‚ but had been a volunteer firefighter for ten years. He was one of the first four in Campbell County‚ Wyoming to receive their Firefighter III certification‚ which was the highest level in Wyoming at the time. Alan was very active in the fire department. He helped organize the ‘Ladder Company’‚ served as vice president of the volunteers and was chairman of the membership committee. He also helped with alot of the fire training both with the fire department and the community.
Alan was also very active in a lot of other community programs. He was an assistant coach for his son’s and daughter’s little league teams‚ umpire for the Gillette Little League for seven years‚ assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 64 and one of the leaders of a high adventure group for the older boys. He took them on many backpacking trips. He was active in Trinity Lutheran church‚ taught children how to bowl through Y.A.B.A‚ and helped his wife deliver ‘Meals On Wheels’ to the elderly for many years. He also helped his wife with their daughter’s Girl Scout troop. He loved spending family time with his wife – Marietta‚ son – Chad Alan‚ and daughter – Tanya Marie. He enjoyed taking them camping in the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills.
After Alan’s death‚ the community‚ fire department personnel‚ local businesses‚ family and friends raised $200‚000 through various fundraisers/donations‚ with additional funds coming from the city of Gillette and Campbell County commissioners to build a training facility in his memory. It is called‚ Alan Mickelson Fire Training Center. It is used for training and educating firefighters and cadets‚ the sheriff and police departments‚ local area coal miners and oil field workers‚ bus drivers and area school children about fire safety. It also hosts the International Mine Rescue Competition every year. Fire safety and training were very important to Alan. He would be very proud and honored to know there is a facility available to be used for that purpose.
Alan touched the lives of many people‚ young and old. He always had a smile on his face and time to visit with anyone who needed a friend. His family and friends will never forget his quiet manner‚ his genuine smile and his love for life. We love and miss him very much.
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