CLARKSDALE, Miss. — A fire captain was found dead in a firehouse of an apparent heart attack Monday night.
The Clarion-Ledger reported that Capt. Willie Ratliff, a 35-year veteran with the Clarksdale (Miss.) Fire Department, was two shifts away from retirement and had worked for the city for more than four decades.
“We had a retirement party for him last week, and he was looking forward to going fishing and enjoying his life,” Fire Chief Obert Douglas said.
Colleagues remembered him as tough, loyal and still being able to fight with the “young guys.”
“Willie was never sick, and nobody remembers him ever missing a single shift. He was a role-model firefighter,” Chief Douglas said. “He was 66 years old, and he fought fire last week like he did 25 years ago.”
Mayor Bill Luckett said the city will miss Ratliff’s smile and presence.
“He’s been a dutiful, loyal employee,” Mayor Luckett said. “You never heard anything but compliments about him. He was a very good officer.”
Chief Douglas said Capt. Ratliff was also a mentor to the younger firefighters.
“When we had trouble with one of the men, we’d send them to him, and he had that way about him that he’d pull them to the side and tell them, ‘We’re gonna pass or fail this thing together,’” Chief Douglas said. “He put his whole soul into everything he did.”
Ratliff’s body has been sent for an autopsy, officials said.