Memorial Page

The Richmond Fire Department
Fire Fighter Memorial

'We remember our past members for their dedicated service
to the Richmond Fire Department. We can not thank these
individuals enough for all that they have done.'

	Firefighter Orin N. Covell Years of Service 1980-2010 Orin was born Feb. 12, 1946, in Rosenberg, to Milton Orin and Falba May Buchholz Covell. He served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve with the 463rd Engineer Detachment (Fire Fighters) and attained the rank of Sgt/E5 as a crew chief. Orin served as Mascot of the Richmond Fire Department in 1952, and has been an active volunteer member for over 30 years. He was a former board member and volunteer of the Pecan Grove Fire Department. He was the Past President of a number of civic organizations: Lamar Consolidated High School Athletic Booster Club, Rotary Club of Richmond, Pecan Grove MUD, Katy Mills MUD, Fort Bend County Museum Association, Fort Bend County Community Foundation now known as the Lamar Education Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F.), Rosenberg Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce and Long Meadow Farms MUD, to name a few. His leadership organizations included being a member of the charter class of Leadership Fort Bend sponsored by the Rose - Rich Chamber, Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Leadership High School at George High School and past member of board of directors of the Houston - Gulf Coast Chapter of ALF. Orin was the Administrative Officer of The George Foundation, an entity well known for its support of Fort Bend County community endeavors. He also served as an officer for the 100 Club Firefighter Selection Committee in Richmond. He was a lifetime member of the Fort Bend County Fair and the Czech Fest, and was active with the Boy Scouts and the American Red Cross. Orin had been an active alumnus of the Zta Mu Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at Sam Houston State University and, most recently, had served as President of the Zeta Mu ATO Alumni Association and was a member of the Board of Directors for the alumni advisor board for undergraduate Chapter. Orin passed away unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, at OakBend Medical Center in Richmond.
	Firefighter Thomas Lynn Grady Years of Service 1990-2010 Thomas Lynn “Tom” Grady, 52, passed away Jan. 29, 2010 at Allegiance Health. Born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1958, Tom grew up in Napoleon and graduated with the Napoleon High School Class of 1977 and then completed studies at the Knight Institute through Jackson Community College. He moved to Rosenberg, Texas, where he lived from 1984 until 2009. While there, he served 20 years as a firefighter for the City of Richmond, Texas. He was a mechanic at Lamar Tractor in Rosenberg, Texas, enjoyed model railroading, toy collecting, aiding other people in restoring tractors and cars, and was an avid bicyclist.
	Firefighter Charles "Butch" Gore Years of Service 1984-1988, 2000-2005 Butch was born Feb. 12, 1954 in Memphis, Tenn., the son of Barbara Simmons Gore and Charles Max Gore, and he passed away Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, at OakBend Medical Center following a brief illness. During Butch's early life, his family moved several times. Prior to the start of school in his fourth grade year, Butch and his mother moved to Livingston, which was his mother's hometown, as well as the home of his grandparents, Mary and John Simmons. Butch was reared in a rural environment. He loved horses and livestock and as soon as he was old enough, he joined the Polk County 4H Club. He was involved in many 4H activities, serving a term as Club President and attaining the Gold Star Boy award. As a freshman in high school, he became a part of the Livingston FFA, where he was elected to serve as secretary and later, treasurer. As a 4H and FFA member, Butch raised and showed many livestock projects at the Trinity Neches FFA and 4H Livestock Show. In the summers, Butch participated in the youth rodeo and local playday events where he took home many ribbons and trophies. Following his graduation from Livingston High School, Butch was employed by the Polk County Sheriffs Department from 1972 to 1975, and by the Trinity County Sheriffs Department from 1975 to 1977. In 1977, Butch moved to Fort Bend County to work as a patrolman for the Rosenberg Police Department. In March 1978, he put on the Richmond Police Department Badge, which he proudly wore for some 15 years. During Butch's tenure at Richmond, he served as Patrolman, Patrol Sergeant, Detective, Assistant Chief, and from Jan. 1985 to Sept. 1993, was Chief of the Richmond Police Department. From 1993 to 1996, Butch worked for the Austin County Sheriff's Department. In 1996, Butch left Austin County to become Police Chief at the Thompsons Police Department and served there until 2000. Serving two police agencies as Chief for a total of 12 years, gives Butch the distinction and honor of being remembered by his friends and colleagues as Chief Butch Gore. In 1993, Butch established Butch Gore Investigations (BGI) as a part time business. When he left the Thompsons Police Department in 2000, BGI became a full-time operation. Butch was able to work community service into his busy schedule. While at the Polk County Sheriffs Department, on his days off, he assisted with calls for Cochran Ambulance Service and after moving on to Trinity County, he continued by assisting their Emergency Medical Services. Butch joined the Rosenberg Fire Department Nov. 1, 1977 and served until Oct. 1, 1983. On Aug. 6, 1984, he became a member of the Richmond Fire Department, serving until May 23, 1988. He rejoined March 6, 2000 and was presently an active member. Butch was a member of the Brazoria-Fort Bend County Fire Service Instructors, the Fort Bend County Firefighters Association, an instructor at the Brazoria-Fort Bend County Field Day, and Livingston Fire School for over 20 years. He also held a State Fireman's and Fire Marshal's Association Intermediate Certification and was a Confined Space Rescue Technician and Hazardous Materials Technician. He also was a Life Member of the Fort Bend County Fair Association, a Fort Bend County Fair Committeeman, a Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Life Member and Committeeman.
	Mascot Lady II Lady II was born July 29, 1994 and passed away October 19, 2004 Lady II helped the department introduce fire safety to children. She always welcomed strangers and had a clever way of showing kids how to do stop drop and roll.
	Fire Marshal Mark Edward Todd Years of Service 1976-2001 Mark Edward Todd, 43, passed away June 9, 2002 in Toledo, Ohio after a brief illness, He was born in Richmond on March 15, 1959. He was a proud native son of Richmond, and he moved to Ohio after his marriage. Mark retired from the Richmond Fire Department on Oct. 12, 2001. He began his fire fighting career in Richmond as a junior firefighter in April 1976. He became a full-time firefighter for the city of Richmond on Oct. 15, 1980. He was appointed fire marshal for the City of Richmond in May, 1981 and served in that capacity for over 20 years. Mark touched the lives of thousands of children with valuable and creative fire safety lessons and received many honors during these years. He was the Richmond Fire Department Fireman of the Year in 1979. He was honored as the Fire Fighting Public Safety Officer of the Year by the Sugar Land Masonic Lodge No. 1141 in 1988. He was later selected as the Gulf Coast Firemen's Association Fireman of the Year and nominated as the State Fireman of the Year. He was a long-time member of the Tri-Rivers Firefighter's Association. Mark was a certified firefighter, peace officer, arson investigator, fire instructor, fire inspector and code enforcement officer. He served as the chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee of the Fort Bend County Firefighter's Association for many years. Most recently, he was the Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Willard, Ohio. One of Mark's proudest accomplishments was his completion of the four-year Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md. He had graduated from the program this year. Upon his retirement from the City of Richmond, Mayor Hilmar Moore presented Mark a Proclamation from the City of Richmond for his many contributions and dedicated years of service to the city. Anyone who knew Mark knew that his passion in life was the fire service. Another one of Mark's proudest moments was graduating from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in political science. Mark was determined to carry on the fourth generation family tradition of graduating from the university. There will be so many things that we will miss about Mark. We will probably never know all the good deeds he did in his short lifetime. We will definitely miss his smile, his kindness and his many stories.
	Mascot Lady Lady was born in May of 1981 and died August 19, 1991 Lady was a dedicated member of the fire department. She expressed her love of children and inviting personality throughout the community.
	John A. Blasdel Sr. Years of Service 1941-1991 Born August 17, 1900, John Blasdel, 90, died May 26, 1991 at Leisure Lodge in Roseneberg.
	Chief Keith Crawford Years of Service 1954-1987 Born in 1928 and a native of Wilton, Arkansas, Mt. Crawford, 59, lived in Richmond fo more than 35 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a former deputy sheriff, and assisstant police chief in Richmond. He served as volunteer fire chief for 12 years before retiring after 30 years of service. He was a member of the Richmond Masonic Lodge AF & AM. Crawford was the first city manager of Richmond under Mayor Hlimar Moore. "I've lost as good a friend as I've ever had." declared Richmond Mayor Moore. "He will be irreplaceable" said Moore, in the sense that Crawford had "worked in every department. He could operate any piece of machinery the city had and he held the licenses necessary to operate anything we needed to operate." "He was dedicated to the city," Moore said. "He could have found any number of other places to work, but he liked what he did here. He never lost sight of who he worked for, by that, I don't mean the city administration, I mean the people. Although the city charter does not provide for a city manager, Moore said Crawford carried the title because "it would have been a subterfuge and an injustice not to designate who was running the city." The army veteran came to Richmond in 1953 and first worked as a patrolman for the city police force. He later becane assistant chief, then went to work for the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department. In 1954, he joined the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department, an organization he remained in until physical problems led to his departure in December 1985. Crawford was the fire chief for 12 yearsin a voluntary capacity, after previously earning the ranks of captain and assistant chief. He was elected president, in different years, of the Fort Bend and Gulf Coast Fire Fighters Associations at the Texas A&M University fire school. Crawford went back to work for Richmond in 1959 in the street department and eventually became city public works director. e was named city manager in 1969. Crawford died Saturday, April 4, 1987.
	Harry Robinson Years of Service 1941-1986
	Homer Sharp Years of Service 1966-1985 Homer Neal Sharp was born June 30, 1910 and died December 13, 1985 In 1973, Sharp was hired as the first paid employee at the Richmond Fire Department. His job was to maintain the fire station and apparatus, so that they were in operable condition when an emergency occured.
	Chief Milford Gless Years of Service 1936-1983 Milford Gless, born in 1907, passed away Wednesday, December 21, 1983, at Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital. He served as a member of the Richmond Fire Department and earned the rank of Richmond Volunteer Fire Chief in 1956. Gless worked as a rice farmer for 35 years before his retirement, while he was a John Deere Dealer for 15 years and a Kaiser Car Dealer for 15 years. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Past Master of the Morton Lodge 72, a member of the Fort Bend Farm Bureau, and a dedicated member of St. John's United Methodist Church.
	Bennie C. Oberhoff Years of Service 1941-1982 Born August 4, 1908, Bennie Christian Oberhoff, 73, passed away Saturday, March 20, 1982 at Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital. Oberhoff was a member of the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department, a Deacon at St. John's United Church of Christ, ans was active with the Rosenberg Little League. He also served as a Fort Bend County grand jury baliff for many years.
	Chief Earl O. Bender Years of Service 1924-1976 Earl Oliver Bender was born October 24, 1894, and a resident of Richmond for 70 years. He died Wednesday, December 22, 1976 at Methodist Hospital in Houston. He was a member of Calvary Church, the American Legion Post No. 567, Fort Bend County Farm Bureau and For Bend Cancer Society. E. O. Bender served as fire chief of the Richmond Fire Department for 13 years from 1943 to 1956 when he was appointed Fire Marshal, a position he retained until his death. He was a 50 year member of the Richmond Fire Department, a lifetime member of the Texas Gulf Coast Firemen's Association, in which he served as president in 1945, and a member of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association of Texas. Chief Bender was credited with being the founder of the Tri-Rivers Firemen's Association and became their first president in 1947. Also, in 1947 he was designated as Texas' outstanding fireman of the year for his enthusiasm and eagerness for hard work, his motivating force behind the conception and orginization of the Tri-Rivers Firemen's Association, and innovative strategies to fire fighting.
	Lee Reiches Years of Service 1942-1975
	Assistant Chief Alvin Hafer Years of Service 1956-1972 Alvin Hafer was born October 10, 1914. He passed away on Sunday, August 7, 1972 at Polly Ryon Hospital after a heart attack, he was 57. A Native of Needville, Hafer was a charter member of St. John's United Church of Christ and a life-long resident of Fort Bend County. He was employed as a clerk at the Richmond Post Office and assistant fire chief of the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department since January 1, 1968. Hafer served as a volunteer fireman since February 3, 1956 and was a member of the pumper team for many years.
	Antone Dolnik Jr. Years of Service 1942-1971 Antone Dolnik was born December 13, 1904, he passed away July 5, 1941 in Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital.
	Monroe Runge Years of Service 1961-1966 Monroe Runge was born in 1933 and died in October 1966.
	Gordon Phillips Years of Service 1941-1965 John Gordon Phillips was born December 12, 1894. He passed away in 1965.
	Elton J. Mueller Years of Service 1951-1964 Elton J. Mueller, 43, died Wednesday, January 1, 1964 im Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital following a long illness. Mueller was an army veteran of World War II, serving in the postal department of the U.S. Army in England for three years during the war. After his discharge he moved to Richmond, where he was employed as a bookkeeper and parts manager for an equipment company berfore he became the Richmond postmaster in 1955. Prior to World War II, Mueller had started his postal career in the mail division of General Motors in Houston He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Rosenberg, the Richmond Voulnteer Fire Department, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Postmaster's League.
	Chief Sam Nordhausen Years of Service -1961 Samuel H. Nordhausen, 69, passed away Monday, February 6, 1961 in Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital, following a long illness. Born in 1893, he was a native of Richmond, that lived there most of his life. He was a shop foreman for the Independent Exploration Company of Houston until his retirement in 1958. For one and a half years, he was with the Gless Equipment Company of Richmond. Nordhausen was a past president of the Gulf Coast Firemen's Association, a fire chief for the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the Morton Masonic Lodge, No. 72 AF & AM.
	Milton O. Covell Years of Service 1936-1960 Milton O. Covell, 48, was a well known resident since 1935, died Friday, March 11, 1960 following a stroke. Covell was born May 14, 1911 in Algiers, LA. He had worked as a plummer, electrician, and a contractor since moving to Richmond. He was the owner of Covell Plumbing and Electic Co. at the time of his death. Covell served his community as a volunteer firefighter for the Richmond Fire Department until his untimely death.
	Chief Walter H. Hinson After an illness of several months, Walter Harris Hinson passed away Thursday, August 13,1936 at his home. Hinson was born November 10, 1880.