Houston's Line of
Duty Firefighters
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Woodrow Wilson Erwin


Born: March 2, 1914, in Palestine, Texas
Died: February 24, 1954, at age
39
38th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the Fire Department: July
8, 1940
Assignment: Chauffeur-Fire House
No. 24
Buried: Forest
Park Cemetery, Lawndale, Section 31, Plot 518, Space 1
Woodrow Erwin died of a heart attack after fighting a house fire located
at 2705 Clay Street and Nagle Street. That day as Acting Captain, Woodrow
and Engine 24, were dispatched to a fire that involved a small shack located
in a junkyard. Immediately after the fire was extinguished, he complained of
a sharp pain in his chest and asked to be taken to the hospital. On the way
to Jefferson Davis Hospital, he asked the attendants to call his wife and
have her meet him at the hospital. He died just minutes before his wife’s
arrival.
On April 23, 1942, Woodrow, at age twenty-eight, was drafted
into the United States Naval Reserves, during World War II. He received his
discharge September 12, 1945 and returned to the ranks of the Houston Fire
Department.
He is survived by his wife, Mabel, and their daughter Joan.
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Lonnie L. Franklin



Born: November 14, 1929, in Houston, Texas
Died: January 4, 1983, at age 53
52nd
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the Fire Department:
August 5, 1950
Assignment: District Chief-Fire House No. 7 “B” Shift
Buried: Resthaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Section 7, Plot 78, Space 4
Chief Franklin died while responding to a house fire in the
2800 block of Dowling Street near Drew Street. The District Chief’s car was
struck broadside by a pickup truck which had ran the stop sign at the
intersection of Elgin Street and Hutchins Street. Engine 7 and Ladder 7 were
seconds behind. The engine crew stopped to render aid while the ladder truck
proceeded to the fire. Lonnie was transported by Ambulance 25 to Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his
injuries.
The driver of the pick up truck was speeding because he was late for work.
He was found guilty of Negligent Homicide.
The cause of the house fire was ruled arson.
Chief Franklin was survived by his childhood sweetheart Kathrine, and four
children. Lonnie, Michael, Tommy and Judy.
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Marcelo "Ox" Garcia
III
Born:
June 24, 1982
2015 -
2024
Died November 6, 2024
Died:
Died November 6, at age 42
78th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the Fire Department: July 20, 2015 Class 2015E
Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 23 “B” Shift
Buried:
Forest Park Lawndale
On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, firefighters were at the scene of a
commercial structure fire. At approximately 11:05 p.m. a mayday was
transmitted for a wall collapse. Firefighter Garcia and another firefighter
were immediately rescued and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where
he succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
Marcelo attended De Zavala Elementary, Edison Middle School, Milby High
School and Texas Southern University, where he majored in Business
Administration, demonstrating the same drive, determination, and passion
that would later define his career as a firefighter.
From an early
age, Marcelo excelled in athletics. He played football for the Magnolia Park
Sharks and baseball at TSU, finding in sports the values of teamwork,
discipline, and service. Over the years, he mentored younger athletes,
volunteering with Angels in the Outfield, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic
School, Milby High School’s baseball team, and the Magnolia Park Sharks.
Marcelo answered the call to serve in 2015. Known for his work ethic,
infectious smile, and fierce dedication, he proudly served at Houston Fire
Station 23, in the heart of the neighborhood where he grew up. For Marcelo,
it wasn’t just a job, it was a calling. He loved the camaraderie,
adrenaline, and the purpose it brought.
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Robert Herman “Bobby” Garner IV



Born: April
14, 1984, in Port Arthur, Texas
Died:
May 31, 2013, at age 29
65th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the Fire Department: October 18, 2010, Class 2010B
Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 68 “A” Shift
Buried: Forest Park Cemetery, Westheimer, Section 500, Lot 64, Space 10
Robert Garner, died along with Matt Renaud, Bobby Bebee and
Anne Sullivan while fighting a fire at the Southwest Inn, 6855 Southwest
Freeway at Hornwood Drive. The fire started in the Bhojan Indian Restaurant,
which was in the front of the motel complex. Just 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. They were able to escape the collapse along with
Captain Dowling, one of the five trapped firefighters.
Before becoming a proud member of the Houston Fire Department, Robert served
in the United States Air Force for six years as a SRA (Senior Airman). He
completed two tours of duty in Iraq.
Bobby is the beloved brother to his three sisters, Nicole, Liz, and Lauren.
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Horace Oscar Gassoway


Born: July 18, 1904, in Winnsboro, Texas
Died: August 6, 1941, at age
37
27th
HFD Line of Duty Death
EnteredHFD: September 1928
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 10
Buried: Hollywood Cemetery, Section J, Plot 31, Space 1
The day that Horace Gassoway died, he was working at the Central Fire
Station, assigned to Service Truck 1. His regular assignment was Fire House
No. 10. The crew was dispatched to a fire in the Weingarten’s Grocery Store
located at 4820 Washington Avenue and Preston Street. They were involved in
a collision with Engine 2, also dispatched to the same fire. The two fire
trucks entered the intersection of Smith Street and Preston Street at the
same time. Four firefighters were injured; Horace died at the scene.
Horace was survived by his wife of sixteen years, Velma Agnes and
their two daughters Gloria Nell, age thirteen and Mary Lou, age eleven
at the time of their father’s death.
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Robert
Rutherford Glass


Born: September 14, 1882, in Houston, Texas
Died: December 1, 1913, at age 31
9th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered HFD: 1902
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Central Fire Station
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Section B2, Plot 21, Space 3
Robert Glass was the driver of Auto Chemical Engine 1. He died while
responding to a house fire in the Fifth Ward. While exiting the Central Fire
Station, the apparatus collided with Car No. 119 of the Galveston-Houston
Electric Railway as it was leaving the roundhouse, which was nearby the
Central Fire Station, for a round trip to Galveston. Glass was transported
by ambulance
to St. Joseph’s Infirmary with two of his crew members, George Richardson
and Raymond Cavanaugh. Both of them were released and returned to work,
Robert succumbed to his injuries the next morning at 9:35 a.m.
Robert was the Vice President of the City Fireman’s Union No. 9629,
organized on March 5, 1902. He held that office from 1906 to
1908. The union was disbanded after Fire Chief O’Leary died in the line of
duty in 1908. The new Fire Chief, Reginald “Kid” Ollre, was never in favor
of an organized union.
Robert was survived by his wife Della and son
James.
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Edgar Henry Grant Jr.



Born: March 20, 1902, in Houston, Texas
Died: July 2, 1929, at age 27
18th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered HFD: February 18, 1928
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 18
Buried: Forest Park Cemetery, Lawndale, Section C, Plot 109,
Space 7
Edgar Grant, who had been in the department almost five months, died
along with Captain Little and Harry Oxford
when Engine 18 was dispatched to a house fire located at 2426 Wilshire
Street and Telephone Road. The incident was just before midnight and the
firefighters were distracted by a large glow in the sky from the house fire.
As they approached the unmarked railroad crossing at Telephone Road and
Lombardy Street, they did not see a south bound, No. 63 Gulf Coast Line
Railway Train pulling fifty-four cars entering the crossing at the same
time. Engine 18 was broadsided; Grant, being the most critical, was taken by
private car to Memorial Babtist Hospital where he died soon after arrival.
Two members of the crew were injured.
Edgar was a member of the United States Navy toward the end of World War
I. He was a Seaman 2nd
Class and stationed in San Pedro, California.
He was survived by his father, Edgar Henry Grant Sr.
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Daniel David
"Danny" Groover



Born: December 15, 1967, in Jacinto City, Texas
Died: July 9, 2014, at age 46
68th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: February 15, 1993, Class 93B
Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 104 “C” Shift
Buried: Houston National Cemetery, Section G4, Site 1145
Daniel Groover died while fighting a house fire at 1510
Mistletoe Lane near Redbud Lane in Houston’s Kingwood area. Inside the
structure, he became separated from his crew and was found in cardiac
arrest. He was transported to Kingwood Medical Center where he later died.
Danny a second generation Houston Firefighter served five years in the United States Army as a
medic. After his discharge he joined the HFD in 1993. As a medic in
the Army, it was second nature to volunteer as paramedic. He served as a
paramedic from 1997 to 2012.
He was widely known for his compassion toward others
that reached well beyond the Fire Department. Danny inpacted many people in
his short life.
He is survived by his loving wife of thirteen years, Ellie, his children
Cory, Marcus and Thomas. Also survived by his parents, Gary and Joyce.
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James Arthur Harlow Sr.

Born: May
18, 1958, in Beeville, Texas
Died: April
12, 2009, at age 50
61st
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD: December 27, 1979, Class 79D
Assignment: Captain-Fire House No. 26 “B” Shift
Buried:
Grandview Memorial Park Cemetery, Garden of Prayer, Lot
584, Space 2
Captain Harlow, a thirty year veteran, died with his “Rookie”
Firefighter Damion Hobbs in a house fire at 7811 Oak Vista near Poplar
Street on Easter morning. Captain Harlow entered the structure with his crew
to search for the occupants of the home. Wind driven fire conditions
produced a rapid fire growth that forced Harlow and Hobbs to withdraw, they
collapsed while attempting to exit. They both were quickly found, however
efforts to resuscitate failed.
A devoted husband, father and grandfather, James was a
respectable and approachable captain. He had an open door policy and his
crew members were always comfortable approaching him. He was a perpetual
optimist. He always said in an East Texas accent, “Everything is going to be
alright”. At his memorial service, his family was presented the Houston Fire
Department’s Medal of Honor,
posthumously.
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H. A. "Ace" Harris



Born:
October 24, 1873, in Calvert, Texas
Died:
February 14, 1921- at age 47
10th
HFD
Line of Duty Death
Entered the HFD:
November1, 1920
Assignment:
Pipe and Ladderman-Fire Station No. 10
Buried:
Sunnyside Cemetery, Calvert, Texas, Left side from
the front gate, four rows from the front fence
Before H. A. became a member of the Houston Fire Department, he was
a member of the Dallas Fire Department for twelve years. When he moved to
Houston, he painted houses until he was hired by the HFD. He had been a
member for three and a half months when Engine 10 responded to a fire at the
Texas Lamp and Oil Company located at 203 Baker Street and Cedar Street.
Due to the lack of water supply, the fire crews had to drag hose lines
through a narrow alley to reach the burning building. Harris, along with the
other crew members, entered the alley with two hose lines in order to gain
access to the
building. Meanwhile, another crew opened a door on the opposite end of the
building. This created a back draft causing multiple barrels of denatured
alcohol to explode, blowing out the wall bordering the alley, trapping
Harris and seven other firefighters. Harris did not perish from the falling
wall; the heavy lamp oil smoke suffocated him. The company suffered over one
hundred thousand dollars worth of damage. The cause of this fire was faulty
electrical wiring.
Harris’ death was overlooked by the Houston Fire Department for
seventy-nine years. A scrapbook was obtained from the estate of a Houston
firefighter, Grover Cleveland Adams, contained
a
“Houston Press” clipping dated
February 15, 2021 verifying Harris ’ service.
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Truxton Joseph Hathaway Jr.


Born: January 9, 1940, in Houston, Texas
Died: October 19, 1971, at age
31
48th HFD Line of Duty
Entered the
Fire Department: February 15, 1961
Assignment: Fire Inspector-Fire Training Academy
Buried: Forest Park Cemetery, Lawndale, Gethsemane 55, Plot 491,
Space 8
Truxton Hathaway was a Fire Inspector temporarily assigned to the Fire
Training Academy.
An eighty-two car Missouri Pacific Railroad Train derailed near Mykawa
Road; he went out to the scene to record the incident for future training.
Two tank cars containing vinyl chloride and butadiene, caught fire
and exploded.
Forty minutes later,
a second blast occurred, killing Truxton and injuring
twenty-seven firefighters, six members of the news media, one HPD officer,
and two civilians.
To this day, film footage recorded by the news media is used for
training all over the country.
Truxton was survived by his wife of ten years, Marjorie Ann, and two
children, Chris and Philip, ages eight and six years old. Marjorie's dad,
Richard Henning also served with the Houston Fire Department.
Truxton graduated from Aldine High School in 1959.
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Rudolph
Leon “Rudy” Hendricks

Born: September 29, 1906, in Colorado City,
Texas
Died: June 22, 1929, at age 22
17th
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered the Fire Department: January 4, 1928
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 25
Buried: Rosewood Cemetery, Section I, Lot 112, Space 4
Rudy Hendricks, with less than two years in the department, died
while operating a hose line at a house fire located at 3552 Reeves Street
and Scott Street. A power line burned through at the house and fell,
electrocuting him. He was transported to Houston Methodist Hospital but died
before arrival.
He was survived by his wife of two years, Mabel, his
childhood sweetheart.
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Damion Jon Hobbs



Born: December 24, 1978, in Galveston, Texas
Died: April 12, 2009-Easter Sunday, at age 30
60th HFD Line
of Duty
Entered HFD: March 3, 2009, Class 2008C
Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 26 “B” Shift
Buried:
South Park Cemetery, Garden of Eternal Love,
Lot 53, Space 5
Damion Hobbs died along with Captain Harlow in a house fire located at 7811
Oak Vista and Poplar Street on Easter morning.
Engine 26 entered the structure to search for the occupants of the home.
Wind driven fire conditions produced a rapid-growth that forced Harlow and
Hobbs to withdraw and they collapsed while attempting to exit. They both
were quickly found; however, efforts to resuscitate failed.
Damion served two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Army and
Texas National Guard. He was at the Val Jahnke Training Facility as a
member of Class 2004-34 when he was deployed the second time with his unit
the 36th CAB 1149th AVB out of Ellington.
Upon his return, he became a member of Class 2008C
and graduated March 3, 2009.
Damion was survived by the love of his life Crystal, his father Jon, Sisters
Janice, Tammy and Sheila, and numerous nieces and nephews.
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Claude Jackson Hopkins


Born:
January 20, 1932, in Bryan, Texas
Died: June 30, 1962, at age 30
45th
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered
HFD: November 1, 1956
Assignment:
Chauffeur-Fire House No. 2
Buried: Willowhole Cemetery, North Zulch, Texas, Section
C, Space 359
On Friday, June 29, 1962, Ladder 2 responded to a sprinkler alarm at the
Bayou Products Company, located at Commerce Street and San Jacinto Street.
The apparatus hit a transport truck carrying grain at the intersection of
Preston Street and Louisiana Street. Four firefighters were transported to
Jefferson Davis Hospital. Claude, severely injured, died the next day.
The alarm was false, caused when a vagrant attempted to get a drink from
a drain valve of the sprinkler system. Claude graduated from Jefferson Davis
High School in Houston, Texas in 1950. Soon after high school, Claude joined
the United States Navy on March 19, 1951. He received his discharge on March
15, 1955, obtaining the rank of Machinery Repairman Second Class.
He was survived by Delores, his wife of ten years, and their two
children,
Deborah Lynn and Kenneth Ray.
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Jay Paul Jahnke



Born:
September 16, 1961, in Houston, Texas
Died: October 13, 2001, at age 40
57th
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered HFD: April
20, 1982, Class 81E
Assignment: Captain-Fire House No. 2 “B” Shift
Buried: Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Section 212, Lot 138, Space 4D, Next to Claude, his Dad
At 0453 hours, Engine 2 responded to a report of a fire in the Four-Leaf
Towers, a high-rise residential building located at 5110 San Felipe Street
and South Post Oak Lane. On arrival the firefighters received a report that
the male occupant was still in the unit on the fifth floor. Upon entering
the unit, they encountered moderate heat and heavy smoke, and the fire had
broken one of the windows. The initial search did not locate the resident,
who was later found deceased. Two of the firefighters were running low on
air and were sent to the stairwell. Captain Jahnke then decided that he and
Senior Captain Robert Green from Ladder 28 should do the same. Upon exiting,
the hose line did not clear the apartment’s self closing door, the door did
not completely shut. Simultaneously, a cold front came through, the high
winds, pushing the smoke and fire out into the hall where the two captains
were attempting to escape. Captain Jahnke became disoriented and followed
the hose line in the direction of the fire. He transmitted a “Mayday” and
was found a few minutes later. He was carried down and transported to
Memorial Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after
his arrival.
Jay
was a highly respected officer, who was part of the
Houston Medical Strike Team‚ swift water rescue‚ and HAZMAT certified.
He also served as the Chief Safety Officer with Cy-Creek Volunteer Fire
Department.
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Charles Alphonse “Jed” Jedlicka



Born: September
27, 1922, in Cameron, Texas
Died: November 17, 1959, at age 37
43rd
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered
HFD: June 1,
1953
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Fire House No. 30
Buried: Brookside Cemetery, Section 2, Plot 159, Space 1
Charles Jedlicka died after sustaining severe injuries in an accident
that also claimed the life of
Willis McWhorter and seriously injured the captain and his
chauffeur. Engine 30 was responding to a house fire located at 7320 Airline
Drive and Benbrook Street. The accident occurred at the intersection of
Fulton Street and Berry Street as an approaching transport truck loaded with
steel beams saw Engine 30, but was unable to stop due to its heavy load. The
fire apparatus was broadsided, breaking it into several pieces.
)
Due to the severity of his injuries, Jed was transferred to Brooks Army
Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas on a plane owned by a
local oil company. Eleven days later he succumbed to his injuries.
In 1940, at the of age eighteen, Jed became a member of the United
States Naval Reserves and served during World War II. His group protected
cargo ships to keep them from being sunk by German submarines. In 1943, at
the age of twenty-one, he returned to the United States was discharged and
returned home.
He is survived by his wife of twelve-years, Helen and
their two daughters, Vicki and Malissa, who were eight and four months old
respectively, at the time of their father’s untimely death.
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Charles Benard Johnson



Born: April
23, 1893 in Corsicana, Texas
Died:
October 4, 1918, at age 25 in France
Killed in Action United States Army
Entered
HFD: 1911
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Central Fire Station
Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas, Section 221, Equator Street, Plot
41
Let me start out with the fact that Charles
Johnson is not an official Houston Fire Department Line of Duty Death. The
details of his life and death were interesting and I wanted to share it with
you all.
This fire fighter is listed on my website, www. houstonfirememorial.com as a
deceased Houston Fire Fighter. The past year or so I have been going through
the listings and trying to find more information on as many fire fighters as
possible. I came across his listing on the web site, findagrave. com.
Charles Benard Johnson Jr. at age 18, left his hometown, Corsicana, to
journey 184 miles to Houston, which would constitute a long way from home,
especially at his young age. In 1911 he began his career as a Houston Fire
Fighter. He served the City of Houston as a Pipe and Ladderman assigned to
the Central Station, 519 San Jacinto and Texas Avenue. In 1916 he resigned
from the Department and returned to his home in Corsicana. September 20,
1916, age 24, he enlisted in the United States Army. He completed his basic
training and was sent to France to fight
against the
German Army in the trenches during World War I as a member of Company D,
359th Infantry.
August 8, 1918 his unit was gassed (mustard gas) by the Germans. On
October 4, 1918 he died in Base Hospital No. 46 after fifty seven days of fighting for his
life. He was buried in Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, Department de la Somme,
Picardie, France, which is ninety four miles north of Paris. After the war ended, his
body was returned to the United States. On November 11, 1920 (Armistice Day)
a Military
burial service was held
in the Oakwood Cemetery, Corsicana, Texas.
Charles went from one dangerous profession to another. As a Houston Fire
Fighter, in the five years he was a member, Houston had many large fires
including the Fifth Ward fire and the Stowers Building fire and lost four
fire fighters in the line of duty. He left the department and volunteered to
be a soldier in WWI. This conflict saw almost twenty million deaths (military
and civilian) and sadly he was included in that total.
I am proud to call
this man a brother fire fighter.
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Clifford
William Johnson


Born: 1878, in Houston, Texas
Died:
June 13, 1902, at age 24
3rd
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered HFD: 1899
Assignment: Pipe and Ladderman-Central Fire Station
Buried:
Hollywood Cemetery, Mossy Dell, Plot 42, Space
6
Clifford Johnson, driver of the Fire Chief’s buggy, died while responding to
a fire located at 1611 Franklin
Street and Crawford Street. His assignment was to pick up Fire Chief
“Jack” Arto at home and respond to the fire. He was traveling at a
high rate of speed on Crawford Street, and as he passed Washington No. 8, he
ran into the rear of a slow-moving buggy without taillights. The men at the
fire house tried to warn the civilian driver but were unsuccessful. Johnson
was transported to St. Joseph’s Infirmary where he died the next day.
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Cohnway
Matthew Johnson



Born:
October
4, 1982, in Austin, Texas
Died: May 4, 2009, at age 26
62nd
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered HFD:
April 20, 2009
Assignment: Cadet-Val Jahnke Training Facility, Class 2009C
Buried: Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, Pflugerville, Texas,
Section H, Lot 1608, Space 3
Cohnway had known from a young age that he wanted to be a firefighter.
He was following in his great uncle’s footsteps, a Chief with Austin Fire
Department.
Before being chosen to join the Houston Fire Department he served full time
with two other departments, the Yoakum Fire Department and Travis County
Emergency Services District No. 3, Oak Hill Fire Department, Austin, Texas.
Cohnway
worked part time for Travis County Emergency Services District No. 9,
Westlake Fire Department, Austin, Texas. Cohnway also worked part time for
Travis County Emergency Services District No. 12,
Manor, Texas.
On the morning of April 29, 2009, Cadet Johnson collapsed during
physical training and was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the
Medical Center. Five days later he lost his battle for life due to
complications of hyperthermia and dehydration.
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William Henry "Bill" Kersten


Born: November 6, 1914, in Houston, Texas
Died: December 18, 1954, at age 40
40th
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered HFD: December 11, 1941
Assignment: Chauffeur-Fire House No. 19
Buried: Woodland Gardens of Memories Cemetery, Section
56, Plot 116, Space 3D
William Kersten, the driver of District Chief 19 was dispatched to a house
fire at 7306 Bonham Street and Harbor Street. When entering the intersection
of Lockwood Drive and Lyons Avenue the chief’s car collided with a Houston
Transit Company Bus. His chief and three bus passengers were injured.
Kersten was transported to Jefferson Davis Hospital where he did not survive
his injuries.
He had five minutes left on his shift when the alarm was dispatched.
Bill was drafted into the United States Army Air Forces October
31, 1942. He
served his country during World War II. He was discharged from the military
January 19, 1946.
He is survived by his wife of fifteen years, Elsie
Elisabeth.
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Kevin Wayne Kulow



Born:
November 2, 1971, in Bellville, Texas
Died: April 4, 2004-Palm Sunday, at age 32
58th
HFD
Line of Duty
Entered HFD: September 15, 2003, Class 23
Assignment: Firefighter-Fire House No. 50 “A” Shift
Buried: Sealy Public Cemetery, Sealy, Texas, Section 17, Lot 423B, Space B
Kevin Kulow started his work day just like all “Rookies”, a bit early.
He arrived at the fire house and took off the gear of the “B” Shift
firefighter he was relieving. Soon after that, at 5:55 AM, Engine 50 was
dispatched to 7610 Kempwood Drive near Wirt Road for a truck fire involving
hazardous chemicals. However, upon arrival they discovered a fire in the El
Festival Ballroom, an after hours night club.
Civilians at the location reported that they were not sure everyone
got out of the building safely. While searching for victims the fire
intensified, the crew members were able to find their hose line and follow
it to safety. While exiting the building they realized that Kevin did not
get out with them. By that time the fire had burned through the ceiling and
roof. Kevin was unable to find his way out of the building.
During the investigation it was determined that the arsonist had
thrown several full one gallon plastic gasoline containers on to the roof.
The fire, set because of a domestic dispute, was ruled arson. Three men and
one woman were charged and convicted of the murder of Firefighter Kevin
Kulow. The ring leader, Jeremy Robinson, a career criminal, was sentenced to
life in prison without the possibility of parole. The other three received
sentences ranging from three to forty years in prison.
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