Remembering our Brothers and Sisters

Fire Chief Louis A. Travis 1877 - 1944

Fire Chief Louis A. Travis died this morning in his office in the Third Street Station at 9am. An ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead before he could be removed to the hospital. Chief Travis was born in Lexington on January 10, 1877 and was educated in the Lexington Schools.

He was appointed to the Fire Department January 1, 1901, promoted to Assistant Chief November 1 1930 and Fire Chief March 1 1944. Chief Travis was a veteran of 46 years.

He was a member of the Kentucky Fireman's Protective Association and the Southern and International Association of Fire Chiefs. He had just recently named state Deputy fire marshal.

He is survived by his sister Mrs. Add Harris

Henry H. McDonald 1878 - 1945

Henry H. McDonald, 67, of Melrose Avenue, a member of the City Fire Department for the past 28 years was found dead in bed at 8:20 o'clock last night at the No. 4 Station on Jefferson Street.

Death was attributed to a heart attack. Fellow firemen reported he had gone to bed at 7 o'clock last night and that he had been in good spirits since coming to work at 7 a.m. yesterday. Coworkers who found the body called the life-saving squad and later the coroner. The life-saving squad failed in its efforts to revive the fireman and he later was taken to St Joseph's Hospital. He was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Mr. McDonald began his duties with the department in April 1917. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Lula McDonald Lexington Herald December 26, 1945

Lieutenant Estill Rickerson Jr. 1930 -1971

Lt. Estill B. Rickerson Jr., 40, died last night, October 4, 1971, shortly after participating in the annual Fire Prevention Week parade. Born November 11, 1930, he was appointed to the Lexington Fire Department January 1, 1950.

  He had been performing for the children at the annual fire prevention parade. As Engine 9 was backed in to the station he collapsed and died despite efforts of other firefighters.

Captain J.C. Moynahan 1894 - 1950

J.C. Moynahan City Fireman Dies of Attack in Wilmore KY, Nov. 21 A Lexington fireman died of a heart attack while fighting a $50,000 fire in the Wilmore business district today.

He was Captain John C Moynahan, 56 of 171 Alabama Avenue, Lexington, a member of Engine Company 6. The Engine Company was called here shortly before noon to help fight a fire which broke out in the two story Wilmore Post Office building. The fire still was burning early this afternoon but was under control.

Damage was estimated unofficial at $50,000. The Building located on Main Street in the center of Wilmore is owned by Asbury College. The fire started in the basement when some turpentine became ignited. Captain Moynihan suffered the heart attack while directing his fire fighting crew from the front of the building. He was removed to a near by dry goods store but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He died at 12:05 p.m.

Captain Moynihan was born Aug. 14, 1894 He joined the Lexington Fire Department on Feb. 1 1921. He was promoted to Captain in 1928, and he became drill master of Company No. 6 in 1948. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. The body was taken to Kerr Brothers funeral Home. Lexington Leader November 2. 1950

Firefighter Robert Wayne Martin 1958 - 1986

Flags were lowered to half mast at Lexington fire stations and City Hall last week as firefighters and government employees joined in mourning the death of a young firefighter, Robert Wayne Martin.

28-year old Firefighter Robert Martin a member of the department for only 18 months. He died from head injuries he received June 21, 1986 when he fell from a fire apparatus responding to a fire. He was riding in a jump seat in the rear of the apparatus cab. He apparently was adjusting his breathing apparatus when the truck turned at Loudon and Bryan Avenues and fell from Engine 1. Born in 1958 he had received massive head injuries and never regained consciousness.

Martin normally worked out of Station 12 on Southland Drive but was called downtown to feel in for an absent firefighter at Station 1 More than 200 firefighters from Lexington, Georgetown, Winchester, Louisville and Richmond attended the funeral Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church. Engine No. 1 carried the coffin to Lexington Cemetery for burial.

Martin was eulogized by his coworkers as a quiet young man who was devoted to his work and enthused about his career. "It’s a grave loss to us" commented Assistant Chief James Caton. "He was a young man with a good education and had a lot to offer to the Fire Department. He was the type of person that we're trying hard to recruit."

Kelly Nuhn, who went through recruit training with Martin, described him as a real good guy. I liked him. He really had things going for him. He worked very hard. Martin was from Philadelphia and moved to Kentucky to study law enforcement at Eastern Kentucky University. Later he switched to fire fighting. He and his wife, Pamela Ann Stamper Martin, had bought a farm in Salvisa in Mercer County about a year ago.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his parents, Richard Martin and Ruth Collins Martin of Wood Crest NJ; a paternal grandmother, Matilda E. Martin of Norwood, PA; four brothers and a sister. Employee Extra July 11, 1986

Firefighter Charles Williams Jr. 1968 - 1997

Charles " Chuck" Williams Jr. had ridden aboard fire engines hundreds of times in more than seven years as a Lexington firefighter.

On Thursday, the fallen firefighter's body was placed aboard an Engine for the last time, to be carried to its resting place. With about 1,000 of his comrades standing at attention, the casket was placed on Engine No. 33, which led a procession from across Kentucky from Jessamine County, where the funeral was held, to Lexington Cemetery.

There it was buried in a plot that had been meant for his father, Charles Williams Sr., who survived his son. The elder Williams are a retired firefighter.

Capt. Charles Mauer said the two were more than father and son. The bond they shared as firefighters made them friend as well.

Williams 29 fell through a smoldering floor into the basement of a home on Lexington's south side early Monday. Colleagues attempted to save him and another firefighter, Gerald Ray Jr. Williams was trapped under the debris for about minutes, acting Chief Ron O'Bryan said. He died on the way to the hospital Ray was injured and remained in serious but stable condition in the burn unit at University of Kentucky Medical Center.

About 2,000 people packed the Southland Christian Church for the funeral. State Journal February 21 1997

Lieutenant Brenda Cowan February 13, 2004

Brenda Cowan never had to prove herself.

Cowan, Lexington's first black female firefighter, died yesterday while responding to a domestic violence call at 8645 Adams Lane.

Co-workers, relatives and friends remember her as a deeply religious woman and a onetime "Little sister at the University of Kentucky's Wildcat Lodge, helping team members with things like laundry- and baking the occasional cookies. She was the sister of Fred Cowan a member of UK's 1978 national championship team.

Cowan who was recently promoted to Lieutenant and received her badge this week, was one off the first firefighters to responded to yesterday call that a woman had been shot. Firefighters responded because they also work as emergency medical workers. Cowan was approaching the house when she was shot.

Cowan was taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 5:35 p.m. She was 40.

"This is our worst nightmare," Fire Chief Robert Hendricks.

Cowan became a Lexington firefighter in 1992 and was transferred to Station 18 about three week ago. Rev. Richard Gaines said Brenda Cowan was a member of his church's greeting and culinary ministries, and hosted the church's mother/daughter luncheon planning committee in her home.

"You can't tell her story without saying she loved her God" Gaines said "everything else in he life was a byproduct of that; she touched lives." Cowan was the first female firefighter to die in the line of duty in Fayette County. She was awarded the Medal of Valor from the Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters Herald Leader February 14, 2004.