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KFD Holds Memorial Service for Fallen Firefighters

October 6, 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 1885 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.

City Firefighters Honor Fallen Firefighters in a Memorial Ceremony on Oct. 6

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 McCaughan Captain 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.

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