Larry Davis Tribute

I remember first meeting Larry Davis in Ashland, Massachusetts at the Fire Instructor Leadership Course "Company Officer Development" that I was attending back in 1987. Ed and Mary McCormick had the brightest individuals in the fire service training us to be the best fire instructor/officer possible and Larry Davis was one of those instructor's. I would see Larry here and there at FDIC or at another conference saying our hellos and what's new. I attended several courses at the National Fire Academy with Larry's brother Mark where I learned more about Larry. One year Larry wanted to make Mark's birthday special, while Mark was attending a 2-week course at NFA he had a birthday cake sent to Mark while he was in class.

Larry understood Rural Firefighting Tactics and Strategies, especially on water-supply. I enjoyed reading his articles and books on Rural Water Supply. Many of his ideas I implemented in our department's Rural Water Supply Operations.

Larry will be missed, my thoughts and prays go out to Larry's family and to his brother Mark. May GOD watch over him until we all gather again at the big Fire House in the sky.

We lost another devoted brother firefighter who made such a difference in the fire service we have today!

GOD Bless Larry Davis and the Fire Service.

Lewis R. Austin
Ex-Fire Chief
Concord Township Fire Department
Elkhart, Indiana

My deepest Sympathies to Larry's Family and friends ...
We've lost a true legend of the Fire Service.

I go back a long way with Larry - as a 60's and 70's Volunteer in Bower Hill and Mount Lebanon, I spent many a drill with Larry and his assistants - and leaned a lot. I bought and studied Larry's books; and took his teachings west to Ohio with me. I preached Larry's Gospel of Rural Firefighting during my ten years as Chief of Berlin Township (Berlin Center, OH).

Larry and his advanced ideas helped save a lot of "stuff" over here in eastern Ohio!

I hope God issued you a White Helmet when you arrived - you've earned it!

With Sincere Respect,
John M.
Chief, Berlin Township Fire Dept, Retired

I am sorry to hear about the loss of Larry. He was a fine gentleman and will be missed by those of us in the fire service. He will be remembered in our memorial service at our 2009 State Fire School.

You are surrounded by prayer.
Rev. Charles W.
South Dakota Fire Chaplain

Sorry to read about Larry's passing. He was a good friend of mine from Canonsburg. We shared a lot of good times in high school band, and when we were in the fire department. I was with North Strabane VFD.

Tim (gutchie, Larry's nick mane he gave me)

I would just like to give my condolences in Larry Davis's passing. He will be greatly missed by the fire service!

Be safe,
Ivan B., Fire Chief
Mount Airy Vol. Fire Company, Carroll County, MD

As a Sr. Captain for Refinery Terminal Fire Company in Corpus Christi, Texas I had the privileged to work with Larry Davis as my one of my Chief Officers. Chief Davis was a man of compassion not only for the firefighters working with or around him; he had compassion for the Fire Service as a whole. He was a firefighters Chief and friend. I had the privilege to work with him on a professional basis both on the fire ground and in the classroom and I assure you what he taught me will be carried with me throughout the rest of my career. I believe Chief Davis found his niche in the fire service and made a difference that will be carried in many departments for a long time to come. This is truly a great loss for the fire service.

May God Bless his family,
Capt. R.C.C., Refinery Terminal Fire Company

Sorry to hear of Larry's passing. We had a lot of good memories,and made a lot of friends in the fire service. He added a lot to the firefighting world

Lee G.

On behalf of The Brierfield Fire and Rescue located in central Alabama we wish to extend our deepest sympathies. I had the sincere privilege to get to spend 4 days last May getting to know Larry as we prepared to host one of his WOW classes. I genuinely consider him a real friend not only to me and our department but to all members of the rural and career fire service. He truly loved teaching and seeing others learn and prosper. When he came to Brierfield, Alabama he was in for a real treat. One that he talked about for a while. We put him up in a refurbished and lavishly appointed caboose. He was so excited about it. We will genuinely miss him and it is our intention and duty to be able to pass on the knowledge he taught us to other departments in the area.

Spruce McR., Chief
Brierfield Fire & Rescue
Alabaster, AL 35007

Condolences to the family and friends on your loss.

First met Larry back in the 70's when he was teaching thru Penn State on weekends. Was so impressed that we brought him to our Station for training classes on LD hose and tanker evolutions and then in the 90's where we learned about CAFS. I just cannot remember if it was a total of 3 or 4 times total. The last time we spoke was at Royersford, Pa a few years ago.

In one of his first books our 1934 Studebaker and New 1982 Hahn are pictured demonstrating the value of LD Hose.

Whenever I would run into him, if it was a class or the Pa Fire Expo, we always talked about the Famous Carsonville Hotel steaks we shared. We shared many war stories and Good Laughter.

He was a Great Teacher who could deliver his message Loud and Clear even to the doubters and will be missed.

To his credit he changed the way fires are fought in our area forever, as he most likely did everywhere he went.

His style of teaching and his passion for the Fire service will be missed by all.

Tom W., Fire Chief
Reliance Hose Co. No. 1
Elizabethville, Pa.

Our deepest sympathies to Larry's family and friends ...

Members of the Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association (Southbury, CT) had the privilege meeting Larry when he did a survey for us on "Rural Water Supply". His survey led us to place orders for two tankers, and the methods learned in those days are still in practice in our rural department today.

Chief Lyman G.

I read about Larry’s passing on Monday. To Larry’s family, I send my deepest sympathy in your time of mourning. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and of his passion for the fire service.

I met Larry in 1985 at the ISFSI 25th. Anniversary Conference in Baltimore, MD. I was 13 years old at that time (the fire service ‘bug’ bit me early in life). Larry signed a copy of his Book “Rural Firefighting Operations” for me and offered some great words of encouragement. I admired his enthusiasm, great knowledge and the courage to challenge the “status-quo” of the fire service. I still have that book in my library today. Years later, I have found myself referencing his books; articles and advice, as I was became an agent for change in my own fire department.

Larry will truly be missed by the fire service community. His influence can be seen in countless individuals and organizations worldwide.

Jim M., Lieutenant
North Shore Fire / Rescue

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of need. Larry thank you for assisting me in making water delivery easier while in New York and Montana. You provided us with the tools to be successful that clearly benefited the organization and the communities we served.

Rest in Peace My Friend
Tom
County Fire Marshal
Office of the Snohomish County Fire Marshal
Planning and Development Services

I wish to offer my deepest sympathies for the loss of Larry. I am an instructor in NJ, and frequently referred to Larry's book and articles when I needed answers to water supply questions. His writings were one of my number one sources of info, especially relative to rural water supply issues. I am saddened by his loss, he inspired me. I used to always hunt through the pages of Fire-Rescue Magazine looking for his column, bypassing the other content until I had read and digested his lesson for the month. I will miss being able to do that. I had hoped to one day actually meet him, but his spirit will live on for a long time in his books and many articles. Thank you, Larry.

God Bless
Mike G.

I realize this is little compensation for your lose, and I am sure you already know this, But Larry left his mark and in doing so he made the world a better place. Not every man can have that said about them. He is a special man, a crusader and he leaves behind a wonderful legacy. I have taken course from Larry, once in Pennsylvania and Twice at my old home department of Cleveland, New York. I got to work directly with Larry during the events in Cleveland. He is an Icon, but also very much a man of the people. Anyone could feel comfortable in his presence. This humanity only enhanced the gift he gave to us. He is not only a preacher but his ideas and preachings developed desciples and his presence will go on and on. His work is alive and well and will remain - Not a bad legacy for any man

I know these words do not fill the void, I know you will hear them from more than just I, I want you to know that we are there with you to share the burden of your pain and our love for the man

Carl A., Program Coordinator
York County Fire School
Fire Instructor II, TERCUSA - National Extrication Judge

I was an associate of Larry's during the ISFSI era and at IRI. He will be missed as a friend and a fellow fire service instructor. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dave W., CFPS, Director
Workplace Safety and Health Division
45 State House Station
Augusta, Maine

Larry Davis: You understood Fire Fighting and all the mechanics necessary to put people, equipment and all available resources in operation to shorten the evolution you joked "every fire eventually goes out". You're a great person, fun to know and a joy to discuss any aspect of firefighting, especially 'water moving' and 'FOAM'. It's a good thing you're not going to Hell as those fires would be in danger too.

Hartley F. -- Field Service, Inc. Brooklyn, CT

My Condolences go out to the family and friends of Larry Davis. I appreciate the many years of insight he provided in the improvement of delivering fire flow in areas without a municipal water supply. Larry captured and shared best practices and raised the area of fire service water supply to a regular subject in books, articles, consulting and presentations. I first met Larry when he instructed part of my Company Officer Development I course for ISFSI in November of 1984. I appreciate having had the opportunity to hear Larry?s arguments and his frank and sometimes unapologetic observations of where we mess up and how we can correct it. It will always be more important to have someone like Larry who sometimes makes us a little uncomfortable as opposed to just hearing what we want to hear. Thanks Larry for a Job Well Done.

Chief L., Fire Marshal
Division of Community Risk Reduction Services
Rockville, MD 20850

My sincere condolences. I had the pleasure of meeting Larry at the Butler County Fire School in Pennsylvania through Roger Mc Gary in 1970’s. We went to a fire company somewhere in Butler County after the days training (live fire in old 21/2 three story balloon frame houses) that’s when I met Larry. We talked for hours. I had found a new friend and a great mentor. I joined the ISFSI and became an instructor because of Larry and Roger’s mentorship. I started going to FDIC then and always looked forward to seeing Larry. He was always excited about life and his excitement was contagious. The last time I saw Larry I told him that I was working with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation on the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Team for the Everyone Goes Home Program. Larry was excited and I was proud. Thank you Larry for being a friend, thank you for your mentorship, thank you for your humor, thank you for your great knowledge and thank you to his family for sharing him. God bless you and give you peace.

Warmly,
Chief (ret) Richard A., C.F.P.S., L.C.S.,
Director, Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program

I remember meeting Larry Davis when he came to visit with the students and staff at Eastern Kentucky University, Fire & Safety program in 1987. Larry was passionate about rural water supply and firefighting techniques and we enjoyed his visit very much. As college students we were very impressed with his down to earth demeanor with the fire science students, many who were new to the fire service at that time. I remember his visit to the campus and his willingness to share information. We really enjoyed discussions with Larry at a social following his formal presentation. We couldn?t believe we were hanging out with a guy who wrote some of our textbooks! Larry was truly a leader and mentor to fire service professionals.

EKU Alum "88"

Charles B. CSP,CFPS,CBCP,MS
Hilb Rogal & Hobbs
AVP, Risk Control Consultant
Risk Management Department
Hunt Valley, Maryland

Larry's many contributions will remain monumental in so many ways. He was a friend, leader, champion, advocate and an inspiration to thousands all over North America and beyond. His impact will be felt for decades to come in communities both large and small given his capacity and his unending willingness to share and to help others understand. Those he touched went on to share what he taught them with thousands of others, too. Those in the fire services and fire protection disciplines are indeed fortunate that he chose our field in which to make his mark. A unique individual, his immense collection of teachings, writings and hundreds of thousands of individual contacts all add up to an amazing list of accomplishments of which family, colleagues and friends can forever be proud. We are all better for having known this great man and will remember what he taught us. Wayne Powell

R. W.P., Fire / Life Safety Specialist
Corporate Fire Protection
Washington, DC

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