KFD Holds Memorial Service for Fallen Firefighters

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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KFD Holds Memorial Service for Fallen Firefighters

Posted: 10/06/2009
The Knoxville Fire Department held its annual Memorial Service Honoring Fallen Firefighters Tuesday at the KFD's Headquarters Fire Station in downtown Knoxville.

The annual ceremony honored the 24 KFD firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty since 1875 and the 7 retired firefighters who have died since the last memorial service.

As part of the ceremony, attended by 150-180 active and retired firefighters and family and friends of those being honored, a bell tolled 31 times - once for each of the firefighters.

At the same time - as each firefighter's name was read by Fire Chief Stan Sharp and the bell tolled - a single red rose was placed into a gold-colored vase bearing the department's insignia.

Mayor Bill Haslam and Chief Sharp spoke at the ceremony and a wreath was placed at the firefighter's statue in Firefighter Memorial Park in front of the station.

Members of KFD who have died in the line of duty since 1885:

Captain Robert L. Blankenship
Fred Everett Boatman
Chief Sam B. Boyd
John. J. Dunn
J.C. Flenniken
Michael A. Fletcher
Captain Howard O. Gray
Captain William F. Maxey
Captain Tom. F. Heagerty
Henry Clay Lawless
James H. May
Louie McCaughanCaptain Henry "Pat" Mitchell
Raymond H. "Shorty" Nash
Captain John O. "Slim" Pickens
William Scott Popejoy, Jr.
William C. Reed
Lloyd C. Scruggs
Fred M. "Jack" Sexton
Carl Eugene Smith
George H. Smith
Captain Worley Smith
Joe E. Tarwater
Captain Charles E. Youngblood

Retired firefighters who died since the last memorial service:

Crosby L. Drew, Jr.
Alfred J. "Buddy" Foulks
Troy E. Harrell
Joseph L. Heath
Clifford "C.L." Lowe
William J. "Bill" McCoy
Chief Paul E. Warwick
The annual KFD Firefighter Retiree's Luncheon followed the memorial service.