Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 24

Buried: Rosewood Cemetery, Section 20, Plot 90, Space 2

The day of his accident, Esker was off-duty, he was asked by a friend, to work his shift. Just as Esker relieved his friend, Engine 24 was dispatched to a call from a fire alarm box and was involved in a collision with a streetcar at Leeland Street and Jackson Street. The streetcar pulled in front of Engine 24 at the intersection. The driver turned sharply to avoid hitting the streetcar, but the fire truck slid sideways and slammed into the side of the streetcar. Esker was crushed between the streetcar and the fire truck. He was transported to the nearby St. Joseph Hospital where he died later that evening. His captain, Merle London and two of the firefighters, Julius “Bubba” Arto and Willie Cross were seriously injured. The passengers and operator of the streetcar were not injured.

After being relieved, his friend walked to the bus stop to head home and heard the crash, which was a few blocks away.

Esker Rogers was survived by his wife, Jewel, and their two sons, Johnny and Billy who were ages six and three at the time of their father’s death.

Charles Roland Rusk

Born: June 3, 1880, in Akron, Ohio

Died: June 8, 1932, at age,52

23rd HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: April 24,1918

Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 14

Buried: Hollywood Cemetery, Section K, Space 105

Charles Rusk, a fourteen-year veteran, died when Ladder 14 struck a streetcar at the intersection of 17thStreet and Yale Street, just a few blocks from Fire House No. 14. Rusk was transported to the Heights Clinic where attempts to save his life failed. Three firefighters were injured along with two passengers and the streetcar operator.

Because of his failing eyesight Charles had been off work since November 21, 1931 and was due to retire. In May of 1932 he regained his eyesight and had just returned to duty on May 8th, exactly one month prior to his death.

His son, Raymond, entered the Houston Fire Department eight years after his father’s death, and retired in 1976 after thirty-six years of service.

Alfred Henry Schutze

Born: September 22, 1887, in Bastrop, Texas

Died: August 21, 1938, at age 50

25th HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: November 5, 1917

Assignment: Battalion Chief-Fire House No. 7

Buried: Hollywood Cemetery, Section J, Plot 4, Space 1

Chief Schutze, with twenty-one years as a member of the Houston Fire Department, was dispatched to a garage apartment fire located at 2021 Bolsover Street near Hazard Street. He died when his apparatus hit an esplanade in the 5100 block of Main Street and Southmore Boulevard.

The accident was at night, the amber warning light at the esplanade was not working and this caused the driver of the apparatus to be unable to see the obstruction. The firefighters on the apparatus were seriously injured and the driver received minor injuries. Chief Schutze was transported to Methodist Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Chief Schutze was survived by, Mary Leigh, his loving wife of twenty-eight years. Alfred also severed in the United States Army during World War I.

Tommy Wayne Searcy

Born: January 5, 1975, in Houston, Texas

Died: September 8, 2020 at age 45
75th HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: August 12, 2002, Class 14 2002
Assignment: Captain-Fire House No. 67 “A” Shift
Buried: Kline Memorial Park, Pinehurst, Texas, Section N, Lot 103, Space 4

Captain Tommy Searcy, an eighteen-year veteran of the Houston Fire Department, lost his life to the COVID-19 Virus.

He is the third Houston Firefighter and the eighty-fourth in the United States to pass away from the COVID-19 Virus as a line of duty death in 2020.

Tommy and his family received an amazing amount of support from around the world, including help from the HPFFA Local 341 and Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. They were instrumental in getting access to an experimental drug that helped Tommy’s body fight the virus while he was in The Woodlands Memorial Hermann Hospital’s ICU.

He proudly served the community for over twenty-five years with several fire departments in the Houston area including Bellaire, Lufkin, Magnolia, and Westfield, where he became Assistant Chief.

Tommy received multiple awards and commendations of valor from both the Westfield Fire Department and the Houston Fire Department.

In 2019 his direct actions at a house fire helped save the life of a fellow Houston Firefighter. Captain Searcy was universally respected for his honor, pride, and tradition in the fire service.

Tommy was immensely proud of, and survived by, his three daughters Kaylin, Krista, and Kinley. He is also survived by his parents Harold and Sin Chae Searcy, older brother Terry Searcy, and twin brother, HFD District Chief Tony Searcy.

Forever Brave, Never Give Up, as in the words of Captain Tommy Searcy…

“Come On, Let’s Do This”

Delbert Harvey Sherfy

Born: April 19, 1913, in Houston, Texas

Died: October 31, 1954, at age 41
39th HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFD: June 25, 1941

Assignment: Chauffeur-Fire House No. 17

Buried: Cleveland Memorial Cemetery, Cleveland, Texas, Lot 103, Space 4

Delbert Sherfy was part of the crew of Engine 17 dispatched to wash down fuel at an accident. On the way to the scene, the fire apparatus collided with a passenger car at Canal Street and Sampson Street. Delbert died at the scene; both occupants of the car, and four firefighters were injured.

He was survived by his wife of seventeen years, Lenna. They had two children, Daniel Harvey and Sarah Ann, who were ages sixteen and thirteen at the time of their father’s death.

Delbert’s Grandfather, Henry Donnelly, served the Houston Fire Department for fifty years from 1895 to 1945, retiring at the age of seventy-eight. Before Henry joined the ranks of the Houston Fire Department, he was a paid driver for the Houston Volunteer Curtin Hose Company No. 9. Delbert’s uncle, Eddie, served the department from 1923 to 1945.

Kimberly Ann Smith

Born: November 20, 1969, in El Paso, Texas

Died February 14, 2000, at age 30
55th HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFD: April 11, 1994, Class 94A

Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 76 “C” Shift

Buried: Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Refugio, Texas,
Far left corner, Between her Grand Parents Beatrice and Lewis Zarsky

At 0433 hours Engine 76 responded to a fire in a McDonald’s Restaurant, located at 12602 Bissonnet Street and Dairy View Lane, less than a mile from their quarters. Upon arrival, Engine 76 reported the fire was coming from the roof of the restaurant. The crew of Engine 76 entered the building and started to advance the hose line to the back of the restaurant. The section of the roof that contained the air conditioning units collapsed, trapping and injuring Mayo. Kim, also trapped, was able to free herself and head toward the back door of the building. Kim was found deceased eight feet from the back door.

Lewis was rescued and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where efforts to save him failed. The fire was ruled as arson, started by four young males attempting to break into the office safe. When unable to open the safe, they set the office on fire. All four men were convicted of multiple crimes with sentences ranging from two to thirty-five years in prison.

Kim took the Civil Service promotional examination for Engineer/Operator in August of 1999; she was promoted posthumously on September 1, 2001. Kim’s badge, number 3972 was presented to her parents, Roseann and Don Smith.

James Magerson “Mag” Smith

Born: August 23, 1891, in Taylor, Texas

Died: February 9, 1929, at age 37
16th HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFD: May 4, 1920

Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 10
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Section B2, Plot 56, Space 4

James died while hooking up a hose line to a fire hydrant during a heavily involved house fire located at 2704 Congress Avenue and Dowling Street. Engine10 arrived at the scene, and stopped at the fire hydrant down the block. Mag got off the back of the fire truck to hook a hose line to a fire hydrant. When Engine 10 proceeded to the fire, a hose coupling caught in the bed of the pumper and pulled the end of the hose like a slingshot from the grasp of Mag. When this happened, the hose couple hit him in the head, the blow was fatal.

His brother, William, entered the Houston Fire Department in 1924 and served the citizens of Houston for forty years.

Joseph James “Joe” Solito

Born: August 24, 1914, in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Died: July 29, 1953, at age 38
36th HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: 1938
Assignment: Chauffeur-Fire House No. 8
Buried: Forest Park Cemetery, Lawndale,Gethsemane50, Plot 6, Space 6

Joe Solito, died, along with Fidel Chabolla, in a collision between Engine 8 and Ladder 1. The fire alarm box at Gable Street and MKT Railroad transmitted an alarm which led to the collision of these two apparatus at the intersection of Preston Street and Crawford Street. Engine 10, was the first due company was on another assignment and was replaced by Engine 8. Ladder 1 had trouble starting and was delayed leaving quarters. This put both trucks in the intersection at the same time. Seven firefighters were injured in the accident. Joe was transported to St. Joseph Hospital where efforts to save him failed.

This is the same intersection where Frank Catino died five months later on January 7, 1954. The same building on the corner, the Southern Electric Supply Company at 1605 Preston Street was damaged in both accidents. The “Houston Chronicle” dubbed it the “Death Corner.”

Joe was drafted into the United States Army December 2, 1942 at age twenty-eight. He served with 65th Infantry Division and was discharged January 14, 1946.

He was survived by his wife of twelve years, Hazel.

Kenneth Dale "Kenny" Stavinoha

Born: April 13, 1983, in Houston, Texas
Died: September 21, 2019 at age 36
72nd HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: March 8, 2018, Class 2018A

Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 27 “A” Shift
Buried: Klein Memorial Park, Tomball, Texas, Section L, Lot 325, Space 2

On September 21, 2019, the day Ken passed away he was wanting to stay busy as usual. He asked if he could cut the grass because the grass had not been cut the day before. Ken would be seen throughout the day weed eating and mowing just trying to stay busy. District Chief 19 would come by as he often did just to talk and Ken came in to visit with the Chief. After the Chief left and not hearing from Ken in a while,
he would be found by Captain Flores unconscious and unresponsive behind Fire House No. 27.
It would later be discovered that he had suffered a major heart attack, which claimed his life.

Ken grew up in Houston and graduated from Scarborough High School class of 2002. Ken was a “doer” and always gave his best at whatever task required of him. Obstacles in life shaped the person he grew up to be: a hardworking man of courage. One of his many admirable qualities was his passion for fixing things, especially cars. Aside from his love for cars, he also enjoyed fishing, surfing, hunting and of course racing, especially his Toyota Supra. Ken worked in the printing industry for sisteen years. In 2016 the company closed the doors due to financial difficulties and Ken lost his job. He graduated from the Val Jahnke Training Facility in March 8, 2018 Class A. His first assignment was Fire House No. 19 “A” Shift.
After completing his probationary period, he was assigned to Fire House No. 27 “A” Shift.

Ken’s strength, tall stature and tough shell could have made you feel intimidated, but to all those who truly knew him, he will always be remembered as a kind, gentle giant with a good soul. His unwavering dedication to his job, and his love to help others will always be a cherished memory of him.
Written by Captain Joe Flores and Jessica Stavinoha

Anne McCormick "Punky" Sullivan

Born: December 4, 1988, in Houston, Texas

Died: May 31, 2013, at age 24
64th HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFD: April 11, 2013, Class 2013A

Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 68 “A” Shift

Buried: Glenwood Cemetery, Section C, Fireman’s Plot, Plot 98, West Half
Buried: Grandvies Cemetery, Salem Ohio,Section 18, Lot 56, Grave 2, with her Grandfather , Thomas Castlen Moore

Anne died along with Matt Renaud, Bobby Bebee and Bobby Garner while fighting a fire at the Southwest Inn, 6855 Southwest Freeway and Hornwood Drive. The fire started in the Bhojan Indian Restaurant, located in the front of the motel complex. Fifteen minutes after crews arrived, the roof collapsed, trapping five firefighters. Before the rescuers were able to reach the firefighters, a second ceiling collapsed, trapping all of the rescuers. The rescuers were able to escape the collapse along with Captain Dowling, one of the five trapped firefighters.

Anne graduated on April 11, 2013 from the Val Jahnke Training Facility. She had worked eleven shifts before her death. She was a member of the Community Volunteer Fire Department and the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department. Anne, at age seventeen knew that her career path would be that of a firefighter.

Anne was survived by her parents, Mary and Jack Sullivan, and her siblings, William, Thomas and Kate.

Rufus John "Bullock" Templet

Born: October 4, 1894, in New Iberia, Louisiana

Died: March 12, 1951, at age 56

33rd HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: January 1, 1922

Assignment: Captain-Fire House No. 5

Buried: Forest Park Cemetery, Westheimer, Catacombs, Section 54, Plot 497, Space 1

Captain Templet, a member of the Houston Fire Department for twenty-nine years, suffered a heart attack while fighting a multiple alarm fire on January 31, 1951. He was transported to Veterans Administration Hospital where he died two months later.

The fire involved the Alaskan Fur Factory located at 600 Main Street and Texas Avenue and two other businesses, the National Shirt Shop and Shaw’s Jewelry Store. All three businesses were heavily damaged.

This fire was especially difficult due to the freezing, icy weather which kept the smoke close to the ground. The fire was also responsible for the death of Joseph Connor.

Rufus Templet was known as a dedicated firefighter and often responded to alarms off-duty. His wife, Lottie, was responsible for starting what became the Ladies Auxiliary Club.

Emil “Ed” Thompson

Born: 1868, in Sweden

Died: April 27, 1899, at age 31
1st HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFDt: January 1, 1897

Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Hose Company No. 5

Buried: Glenwood Cemetery, Section C, Fireman’s Plot, Plot 98, East Half

Emil Thompson died after being hit by No. 56 Texas Central Railway Train. The crew was responding to a house fire located at 1508 Crockett Street and Johnson Street. Houston Avenue was the fastest route, but was not always the best, especially after heavy rain. The driver, Henry Donnley, chose to take a different route to avoid Houston Avenue. Hose Wagon 5 was attempting to cross the railroad tracks at Hickory Street, which had an unusually steep grade and had a blind spot. The hose wagon was already crossing the tracks when the driver realized they were in jeopardy of being hit by oncoming railcars being pushed through the crossing. The driver shouted at the well-trained horses and was able to avoid being hit by the train. The crew members riding in the back feared the fire apparatus would not clear the tracks in time and began jumping. Thompson was the last man off and fell backward into the path of the train where he died instantly.

Emil was survived by his wife of five years, Winona; they were married March 22, 1894.

Herman Joseph “Dutch” Wagner

Born: June 2, 1871, in Chicago, Illinois
Died: May 25, 1912, at age 40
6th HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD : September 21, 1895
Assignment: Captain-Washington No. 8
Buried: Washington Cemetery (Glenwood Cemetery), Section D, Plot 2, Space 4

On May 19, Captain Wagner was struck by a heavy timber while fighting a fire at the six-story Stowers Furniture Building located at 701 Main Street between Rusk Street and Capitol Street. The fire destroyed a whole city block, including three adjacent buildings. He was transported to St. Joseph’s Infirmary, where he fought for his life for six days. After surgery was performed in a final attempt to save his life, he never regained consciousness.

A local newspaper dubbed the incident “The Million Dollar Fire.” Captain Wagner had remarked to his wife one day when they were downtown that the Stowers Building was dangerous and would someday kill a firefighter. He never thought the firefighter would be himself.

Herman Wagner was one of the first paid firefighters hired when the City of Houston went from a volunteer department to a paid department in September of 1895.

Herman was survived by his wife Emma. They had two daughters, Lilly, age seventeen and Agnes, age seven, and a son, Eddy, age fifteen.

Walter William “Molly” Walker

Born: October 23, 1881, in Millican, Texas

Died: July 1, 1940, at age 58

26th HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: March 1, 1914

Assignment: Driver-Fire House No. 2
Buried: Hollywood Cemetery, Peaceful Valley, Plot 98, Space 5

Molly’s assignment at Fire House No. 2 was driving the reserve engine the crew nicknamed “The Bulldog.” The brand name of the truck was Mack and the Mack Truck Company used a small hood ornament shaped like a bulldog as their company symbol.

The day of the accident, Tuesday, December 6, 1938 was Molly’s scheduled day off. He took the place of a fellow firefighter, Hearn Hooker, who wanted the day off. Molly and “The Bulldog” were assigned to Fire House No. 17 for the day while their apparatus was at the repair shop for maintenance. While responding to a fire call, they hit a city bus at Harrisburg Street and Sampson Street. Molly sustained a head injury, which resulted in a blood clot. Back then, there was not much the doctors could do. He was sent home and died as a result of his injuries nineteen months later.

Early in his career, Molly raised rabbits behind Fire House No. 3. His fellow firefighters called him, “Molly Cottontail.” Over time, the nickname became “Molly”. The name was so much a part, his wife chose to have “Molly” engraved on his headstone.

James Louis Walls Jr.

Born: March 8, 1945, in Elizabeth City, Virginia

Died: May 3, 1971, at age 26

47th HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: May 5, 1969, Class 69D

Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 51 “A” Shift

Buried: Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Section 7, Plot 61, Space 2

James Walls died while driving Ambulance 1128 which was struck by a passenger vehicle at the intersection of Chimney Rock Road and Westheimer Road. At this point in time, the Houston Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Service, which began providing service on April 1, 1971, had twenty-one light duty Dodge vans in service. The small size of the van was found to be a contributing factor in the death of Walls. Soon after the accident, the HFD purchased twenty-two heavy duty modular ambulances. The news media soon dubbed these units
“an emergency room on wheels.”

James enlisted into the United States Navy December 2, 1965. He was discharged October 17, 1968.

He was survived by his wife of two years Betty, and their daughter, Theresa, who was an infant at the time of her father’s death.

Michael James Ward Jr.

Born: January 2, 1895, in Evansville, Indiana

Died: December 21, 1929, at age 34

22nd HFD Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: January 1, 1929

Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 14
Buried: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana, Section 9, Lot 69, Space 5

Michael Ward, eleven days from completing his first year in the Houston Fire Department, died with his friend Aaron O’Brien when Engine 19 was dispatched to a house fire located at Quitman Street and Clark Street. When crossing the double railroad tracks at Gregg Street, a short distance from Fire House No. 19, they were hit by a Southern Pacific Railroad Train. Buildings at the crossing obstructed the view of the oncoming train and the red lights and the swinging arm at the crossing were not working. O’Brien died instantly and Ward was transported to Memorial Baptist Hospital where he died the next day. Four crew members were injured and transported to local hospitals. Michael was visiting the fire house off-duty at the time the alarm came in and chose to ride Engine 19 to the fire.

Steven Reid Whitfield II

Born: March 17, 1984, in Beaumont, Texas
Died March 31, 2016, at age 32
70th HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFD: October 26, 2015

Assignment: Cadet-Val Jahnke Training Facility, Class 2015G

Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, Texas, Garden of Love, Plot D, Lot 76, Space 2

On the morning of March 31, the members of Class 2015G were going through the obstacle course at the “Survival House“ at the Val Jahnke Training Facility. Steven had almost competed his turn when he collapsed. His classmates quickly brought him outside and began CPR while attempting to lower his body temperature. Medic 44 was on the grounds involved in a drill. They transported him to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Several hours later efforts to save him failed. His cause of death was ruled dehydration and hyperthermia.

Steven was a well-respected cadet, mentor and motivator to many of his classmates and had only two and a half months left of his training. He was thirty- two and older than most of his fellow cadets. His class graduated June 16, 2016 and dedicated the ceremony to him. Class 2015G placed a memorial plaque at the Val Jahnke Training Facility in his honor.

In 2014 he became a member of the Texas National Guard. After completing Infantry and Airborne School, he was in line to attend Army Ranger School. The Army offered him an opportunity to attend the testing process to join the Green Berets, but he declined the offer.

Clifford Allen Wiese

Born: June 10, 1891, in Houston, Texas

Died: July 14, 1913, at age 22
7th HFD Line of Duty Death

Entered the HFD: July 4, 1913

Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Hose Company No. 3
Buried: Magnolia Cemetery, Section 39, Space B, in the Wiese family plot

Clifford Wiese had worked for the Houston Fire Department for a few months in 1912. He had been reinstated for ten days when he was a victim of an accident on July 14, 1913. Clifford was assigned to Fire House No. 3, located at 1919 Houston Avenue and Spring Street. His duty the day he died was that of driving a mule-drawn supply wagon and delivering supplies to the various fire houses around the city. Upon completing his deliveries, he began the trip back to Fire House No. 3. There was a railroad track that ran beside the fire house which was in need of repair. The maintenance crew of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad was repairing the track with a work train that consisted of various types of cars used to hold the needed equipment and materials. Clifford and his wagon were traveling on Johnson Street and were less than five hundred feet from the back of the fire house when he began to cross the railroad tracks to turn onto Spring Street. At the same time the locomotive of the work train was pushing its railcars across Johnson Street where Wiese was attempting to cross. The lead railcar hit the wagon splintering it into many pieces, injuring the mule and fatally injuring Wiese. Clifford was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Infirmary where he died several hours later.

Clifford was survived by his parents, Gustav and Loretta, and his four sisters, Olive, Norma, Cordelia, and Maude.

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