Firefighters pay their final respect

Longtime Kilgore fire marshal Dale McBride was buried with military and firefighter honors Friday at Danville Cemetery. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served 25 years with KFD, 19 as the city's fire marshal. Dale McBride's "last alarm" Friday morning signaled his duty to God, country and community is complete and his lifelong work as a firefighter was well done.

Both of the longtime Kilgore fire marshal's families — his biological family and his firefighter family — said farewell in a touching ceremony at Danville Cemetery attended by firemen and law enforcement officials from several area departments.

McBride's body was transported from Rader Funeral Home on KFD Engine #2, the fire truck he drove after he was promoted from firefighter to driver, a job he performed from 1980-82, said Dennis Gage, KFD operations chief and longtime coworker.

"Dale was a good fellow," Gage recalled after the service. "He like to read and he always had a Bible in his office. I believe he read it every day."

Gage said McBride was a dedicated fireman who loved his work.

McBride began his duties as a Kilgore fireman on May 21, 1980, and worked as a firefighter, driver, assistant fire marshal and fire marshal during his 25 years here, until his retirement on Feb. 28, 2005. He was 62 when he died on July 6.

Thanks to McBride's grant writing efforts, KFD won a $47,500 FEMA grant, which was used to purchase its "Survey Fire Safety House," a mobile education center used to teach children about fire prevention and safety.

"Unfortunately, we didn't get it until after Dale retired," Gage said. Still, McBride's name is painted on the side of the "house" in appreciation of his work to obtain the teaching lab.

As his coffin was carried from Engine #2 to the graveside, Ronny Clowers, a former Kilgore firefighter who worked with McBride for several years before transferring to the Longview Fire Department, played the bagpipe and led the way. The Rev. Tony McCoy read favorite scriptures and led the mourners in prayer.

Local firemen served as pall bearers, and Ronnie Moore, chief of emergency services, read the "Fire Fighters Poem." After a 21-gun salute from the Gregg County Sheriff 's Office and "Taps" on a trumpet played by Angela Burch, Kilgore police officer, two Barksdale Air Force Base representatives presented McBride's wife Peggy with the U.S. flag that had been draped over his coffin. Sgt. McBride served with the USAF from 1966-70. A lone plane from Barksdale AFB flew overhead in a final farewell.

Gage, who worked with McBride during all of his years at KFD, read "The Bell Ceremony," and KFD Captain Ramon Coven rang a silver bell that tolled "5-5-5" — three rounds of five rings each that signals "all men are in quarters."

Afterward, Kilgore's emergency dispatch office radioed "tones out," and dispatcher Josie Atchley announced to all listening by radio, "Godspeed Dale, may God welcome you with open arms."

Clowers concluded the ceremony by playing "Amazing Grace" as he walked away from the graveside and the music faded away.

During his career, McBride earned Texas Commission on Fire Protection certifications for Advanced Firefighters, Arson Investigator, Class C Inspector, Fire Prevention Officer and Intermediate Fire Instructor. He was also a certified police officer, working in that capacity at the East Texas Regional Airport for two years prior to joining the Kilgore Fire Department. He volunteered at the Elderville VFD while working at the airport, Gage said.

McBride's professional organization memberships included the Northeast Texas Fire Chiefs Association, the Texas Society of Fire Instructors, the Texas Arsons Investigators Association and the East Texas Arson Investigators Association. He was also a Mason.

In addition to his wife, McBride is survived by five daughters, one son, his mother, 21 grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Kilgore Fire Department's "Survey Trailer," P.O. Box 3066, Kilgore, Texas 75663-3066

Condolences may be left at www.raderfuneralhome.com.