Copyright 2005 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.
By Tom Wheatley
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Budweiser Guns ‘N Hoses Boxing Showdown has become a Thanksgiving Eve tradition.
For 18 years, area firefighters and police punch each other for fun -- and also to fund the Backstoppers, the support group for the families of public servants lost in the line of duty.
In lucky years, when the Backstoppers have no new families to help, the spotlight at Savvis Center can focus on the fun. The fund-raising, a total of $1.4 million so far, is a far-off abstraction.
At other times, such as the 17-bout card at 7:30 tonight, reality forces its way into the ring.
In the year since the Police out-slugged the Firefighters 12-7, five of their colleagues died in service to the community:
Scott M. Armstrong, 31, a Bridgeton policeman.
Jerry Buehne, 64, chief of the Affton Fire Protection District.
William L. McEntee, 43, a Kirkwood police sergeant.
Brad L. Schultz, Jr., 29, a Riveriew policeman.
Ralph C. Tatoian, 32, a Missouri Highway Patrol trooper.
For the boxers who knew them, the matches tonight carry extra meaning.
Allison Riekena, 27, of the Boeing Fire Department formerly worked as a volunteer with Chief Buehne in Affton.
She said his death, in March from a speeding felony suspect crashing into his car, was “a tragedy.”
Riekena boxed in the event once before, in 2002 while still affiliated with the Affton fire protection district.
“I lost, but it’s all for where the money goes to,” she said. “Unfortunately, the last couple years, the Backstoppers have needed the money.”
Jerry West, 43, is stationed in Jefferson City with the Missouri Highway Patrol. He commuted from his Columbia home to train for his heavyweight bout with Granite City fireman Larry LeMasters.
“I knew Ralph Tatoian,” West said. “He came through the firearms school when I was one of the instructors. He was a good kid.”
Tatoian was killed in a traffic crash in April, while joining the manhunt for a suspect in the shooting of a Gasconade County deputy. His Troop C falls into the Backstoppers two-state coverage area.
For some boxers, the personal mission goes back a few years.
University City fireman David James, 30, a former prep wrestler, is making his boxing debut against St. Louis policeman James Little for one reason.
“It’s strictly for the cause, to help the families,” James said. “I used to work for the St. Louis Fire Department, and I was one of the paramedics who tried to revive Derek Martin. It was really tough.”
Martin and Robert Morrison died fighting a blaze at a refrigeration company in 2002.
Once the ceremonial 10-count is sounded for their fallen colleagues, the fighters -- and the crowd, over 17,000 strong last year -- will settle in for a night of fun.
Takisha Hurt, 26, attended Guns ‘N Hoses for her first three years as St. Louis policewoman. Tonight she steps into the ring to fight Riekena in the lone female bout.
“I’m going to kick some butt,” said Hurt, who then admitted, “I’m more the shopper type. I’ve been training hard, but I’d rather be at the mall. My mom, Debra Hurt Miller, told me if the other girl knocks me out, she’s going to get in the ring with her gloves on and keep it going.”