Community bids farewell to former Fire Chief Ron Rickard
Fire Chief Ron Rickard
March 4, 2015
Charlea Mills
When a valued member of the community dies, you expect to see an outpouring of support to remember them, but sometimes that goes above and beyond what anyone would expect. This was precisely the case with long-time Central Crossing Fire Chief Ron Rickard’s funeral on Monday.
As fellow firefighters, family and friends gathered to remember a man who gave so much of himself, the funeral procession was eye-catching, with more than 15 fire trucks and water tankers paying homage to the chief of 29 years who passed away at 78.
Rickard was a well-known and loved member of the community. Rickard and his wife, Pat, moved to Shell Knob in 1971, and in 1972, he joined the Central Crossing Fire Department. After serving as Fire Chief for 29 years, he passed the torch on to his grandson, current chief Rusty Rickard. Ron was also instrumental in helping to form the 911 center and kept working with the department until his death.
The number of people who attended the service actually overwhelmed the church with an additional wing having to be opened to accommodate the number of people who Ron affected during his life, including a large number of firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officers.
Rusty said, “He put a non-paying volunteer position before anything else, whether that meant closing his business or sending people away from the shop to go cover a fire call, he would do it. It didn’t take long for people to see that.”
He continued, “Ultimately, it was him that got me hooked with the department.” Rusty began with Central Crossing 15 years ago and was promoted to chief in 2005.
The mass of people who turned out on Monday to honor Ron included members of the local fire departments, the honor guard and members of the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team. Ron’s granddaughter Toni Fields, said, “The Missouri Firemen’s Service team had their honor guard out of Stone County come and do the whole service and even stood guard over his casket. They loaded him on the fire truck and six of them rode up on top of the truck with him in the cold rain when it was 37 degrees. It was amazing to see that dedication to our Papa.”
The team is dedicated to honor fallen firefighters with dignity and reverence and provide support for their families. Part of that service includes standing guard over the casket of their fallen comrade to honor them.
Fields added, “He was loved by so many. I think it was that he was down to earth, and he was a truthful man. What you saw was what you got with him. He was knowledgeable because of the work he did and what he learned from others.”
That desire to listen and learn is what drew many to Ron over the years and helped the community in so many ways. Fields said, “He always said through his stories to take the time to listen and learn from others. When everyone told stories at the service, it was what they had learned from him. He really took the time for others and you could see that yesterday with the number and variety of people who came.”
So when the church and processional was filled with firefighters and others who had been touched by Ron’s wisdom and genuine caring for others, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Rusty said, “He wanted to do anything he could to help the other agencies, whether they were big or small. A lot of people came to him for wisdom and knowledge because he’d been through it all.”
Before Ron was laid to rest at the cemetery, all of the beepers went off and it was the signal of Ron’s last call. Fields said, “They rang the bell three times three to show that it was his last time out. It was such a service to our family that they provided, such a level of respect.”
As his fellow firefighters bid him farewell in style, they offered the sentiment, “We’ll take it from here, brother.”
Charlea Mills
When a valued member of the community dies, you expect to see an outpouring of support to remember them, but sometimes that goes above and beyond what anyone would expect. This was precisely the case with long-time Central Crossing Fire Chief Ron Rickard’s funeral on Monday.
As fellow firefighters, family and friends gathered to remember a man who gave so much of himself, the funeral procession was eye-catching, with more than 15 fire trucks and water tankers paying homage to the chief of 29 years who passed away at 78.
Rickard was a well-known and loved member of the community. Rickard and his wife, Pat, moved to Shell Knob in 1971, and in 1972, he joined the Central Crossing Fire Department. After serving as Fire Chief for 29 years, he passed the torch on to his grandson, current chief Rusty Rickard. Ron was also instrumental in helping to form the 911 center and kept working with the department until his death.
The number of people who attended the service actually overwhelmed the church with an additional wing having to be opened to accommodate the number of people who Ron affected during his life, including a large number of firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officers.
Rusty said, “He put a non-paying volunteer position before anything else, whether that meant closing his business or sending people away from the shop to go cover a fire call, he would do it. It didn’t take long for people to see that.”
He continued, “Ultimately, it was him that got me hooked with the department.” Rusty began with Central Crossing 15 years ago and was promoted to chief in 2005.
The mass of people who turned out on Monday to honor Ron included members of the local fire departments, the honor guard and members of the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team. Ron’s granddaughter Toni Fields, said, “The Missouri Firemen’s Service team had their honor guard out of Stone County come and do the whole service and even stood guard over his casket. They loaded him on the fire truck and six of them rode up on top of the truck with him in the cold rain when it was 37 degrees. It was amazing to see that dedication to our Papa.”
The team is dedicated to honor fallen firefighters with dignity and reverence and provide support for their families. Part of that service includes standing guard over the casket of their fallen comrade to honor them.
Fields added, “He was loved by so many. I think it was that he was down to earth, and he was a truthful man. What you saw was what you got with him. He was knowledgeable because of the work he did and what he learned from others.”
That desire to listen and learn is what drew many to Ron over the years and helped the community in so many ways. Fields said, “He always said through his stories to take the time to listen and learn from others. When everyone told stories at the service, it was what they had learned from him. He really took the time for others and you could see that yesterday with the number and variety of people who came.”
So when the church and processional was filled with firefighters and others who had been touched by Ron’s wisdom and genuine caring for others, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Rusty said, “He wanted to do anything he could to help the other agencies, whether they were big or small. A lot of people came to him for wisdom and knowledge because he’d been through it all.”
Before Ron was laid to rest at the cemetery, all of the beepers went off and it was the signal of Ron’s last call. Fields said, “They rang the bell three times three to show that it was his last time out. It was such a service to our family that they provided, such a level of respect.”
As his fellow firefighters bid him farewell in style, they offered the sentiment, “We’ll take it from here, brother.”
