MemorialService

Memorial Service Honors Missouri’s Fallen Firefighters

JEFFERSON CITY, May 21, 2006-Three fallen firefighters were honored today during a memorial service at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City.

In the past 12 months Robert Allen Bestgen, Timmy Shane Hardy and Captain Alan Leake were lost to the injuries sustained while performing their duties as Firefighters.

“Today’s service is not only to honor the lives of these Firefighters, but to also recognize the sacrifices their families have endured,” said Randy Cole, State Fire Marshal.

Firefighter Robert Allen Bestgen of the Osborn Fire Protection District died on September 3rd, 2005 from injuries sustained during an incident the previous day at the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn. Bestgen was trying to stop a push truck that had slipped out of gear and appeared to be heading toward spectators. Bestgen served the Osborn Fire Protection District for twenty years.

Firefighter Timmy Shane Hardy of the Neosho Fire Department died on November 7th, 2005 while battling a fire at the Ragland Mills complex in Neosho. Hardy was killed when he became entrapped in a conveyor belt he was riding to the top of the grain elevator. Hardy began his firefighting career as a volunteer in 1994.

Captain Alan Leake of the Fulton Fire Department died on April 30th, 2006 after collapsing at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Captain Leake began his fire service career on September 1st, 1982.

In addition, the service honored the more than 20 Missouri Firefighters who died of non-line of duty causes since May 2005, including:

Name Agency Name Agency
Julius M. Acoff, Jr. University City FD Dave E. Latham Mid-County FPD (Camdenton)
Marty R. Baslee Pettis County FD Lonnie Lentz Compton Junction FD, FFAM, State Fair FD
Anthony Bower New Haven-Berger FD Clinton Prinster Wentzville FPD
Tom Claywell Little Dixie FPD Raymond Roberts Vandalia Volunteer FD
Patrick E. Dick Pattonville Bridgeton Terrace FPD Dave Rudisaile Festus FD, FFAM, State Fair FD
Sean "Skippy" Eason Fulton FD John Anthony "Jay" Sampietro, Jr. Logan-Rogersville FD
Eugene F. "Jack" Elliott El Dorado Springs FD James William "Jim" Sanders Central Jackson County FPD
Heath Heusted City of St. Robert FD Ricky Allen Seiner Polk County Fire and Rescue
Quint L. Huffman Millersburg FPD Willis Walker Smith Boone County FPD
John C. Johnson Deer Creek FPD Sidney F. Wilson IV Stoutland FD
James Wrzesinski Lake Ozark FPD

For more information about the service, please contact State Fire Marshal Randy Cole at (573) 751-2930 or visit the Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation at http://www.ffam.org/MEMORIALFOUNDATION.htm.

*News Release*
*Public Safety*	Matt Blunt, Governor	Mark James, Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact: Terri Durdaller Communication Director Work:(573) 751-4819 Cell: (573) 301-2023
Memorial Service Honors Missouri’s Fallen Firefighters JEFFERSON CITY, May 21, 2006-Three fallen firefighters were honored today during a memorial service at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City. In the past 12 months Robert Allen Bestgen, Timmy Shane Hardy and Captain Alan Leake were lost to the injuries sustained while performing their duties as Firefighters. “Today’s service is not only to honor the lives of these Firefighters, but to also recognize the sacrifices their families have endured,” said Randy Cole, State Fire Marshal. Firefighter Robert Allen Bestgen of the Osborn Fire Protection District died on September 3rd, 2005 from injuries sustained during an incident the previous day at the U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn. Bestgen was trying to stop a push truck that had slipped out of gear and appeared to be heading toward spectators. Bestgen served the Osborn Fire Protection District for twenty years. Firefighter Timmy Shane Hardy of the Neosho Fire Department died on November 7th, 2005 while battling a fire at the Ragland Mills complex in Neosho. Hardy was killed when he became entrapped in a conveyor belt he was riding to the top of the grain elevator. Hardy began his firefighting career as a volunteer in 1994. Captain Alan Leake of the Fulton Fire Department died on April 30th, 2006 after collapsing at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Captain Leake began his fire service career on September 1st, 1982. In addition, the service honored the more than 20 Missouri Firefighters who died of non-line of duty causes since May 2005, including: Name Agency Name Agency Julius M. Acoff, Jr. University City FD Dave E. Latham Mid-County FPD (Camdenton) Marty R. Baslee Pettis County FD Lonnie Lentz Compton Junction FD, FFAM, State Fair FD Anthony Bower New Haven-Berger FD Clinton Prinster Wentzville FPD Tom Claywell Little Dixie FPD Raymond Roberts Vandalia Volunteer FD Patrick E. Dick Pattonville Bridgeton Terrace FPD Dave Rudisaile Festus FD, FFAM, State Fair FD Sean "Skippy" Eason Fulton FD John Anthony "Jay" Sampietro, Jr. Logan-Rogersville FD Eugene F. "Jack" Elliott El Dorado Springs FD James William "Jim" Sanders Central Jackson County FPD Heath Heusted City of St. Robert FD Ricky Allen Seiner Polk County Fire and Rescue Quint L. Huffman Millersburg FPD Willis Walker Smith Boone County FPD John C. Johnson Deer Creek FPD Sidney F. Wilson IV Stoutland FD James Wrzesinski Lake Ozark FPD For more information about the service, please contact State Fire Marshal Randy Cole at (573) 751-2930 or visit the Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation at http://www.ffam.org/MEMORIALFOUNDATION.htm.
More Public Safety News