LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – A longtime fire chief from the Camp Taylor Fire Department has lost his battle against cancer.
Harold Adkins was the youngest person to become chief when he did so in 1965 and the oldest to retire.
He started his job in his mid-20’s and served in the role for nearly 50 years.
Adkins’ friends and former co-workers say he was one-of-a-kind and a great man.
"He was more than a chief. He was a friend. You could go to him about anything, and he would give you the best advice that he possibly could," Mike Sievert, a former firefighter and friend said. "He ate and breathed fire service. The man knew his stuff. There's nothing you could really ask him that he didn't know the answer to just off the top of his head."
It's unclear what kind of cancer Adkins had, but he started his career at a time when fire equipment wasn't as good as it is today.
His coworkers added he was always very big about cleaning the gear after every run to keep his team as safe and healthy as possible.