By FireRescue1 Staff
BRYAN, Texas — The man behind establishing one of the largest firefighter training centers in the nation died at 99 Wednesday.
Henry D. Smith was a volunteer firefighter in the 1940s, and was division director of Texas A&M Engineering Extensions Emergency Services Brayton Fire Training Field in 1957. He worked to secure the land of the training field and helped double its size by 1986, reported TheEagle.com.
“The fire field wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Henry Smith,” Chief Robert Moore, TEEX’s division director, said. “He didn’t just shape the fire school, let me tell you, he helped shape the fire service.”
Smith also helped establish programs for Spanish-speaking firefighters at the center. He served as the first chairman of the Texas Commission of Fire Protection from 1970 to 1987, where he oversaw regulations across state fire departments.
“If he had an idea, he would go out and pitch that idea to someone else, some other employee, and let them run with it, but let them get credit for it even though it was his idea. He was one of those people,” Moore said.
Funeral services will be held Saturday.