|
Commissioners dedicate bridge to Parris
By Justin Goble
County commissioners joined a former fire chief’s family and friends Sunday (Set. 17) to honor the memory of a fallen hero.
During an afternoon ceremony alongside U.S. 23-74 in Willets, a highway bridge officially became the Jake Parris Jr. Bridge.
Surrounded by firefighters from the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Fire Department, along with Parris’ children and widow Geneva, Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan said the honor was fitting given Parris’ service to the area.
Children of firefighter Jake Parris Jr. – from left, Rick, Keith and Bruce Parris and Joanna Nicholson, gather around his widow, Geneva Parris, during a Sunday (Sept. 17) ceremony naming the U.S. 23-74 bridge that crosses Dark Ridge Road for the fallen firefighter. State Department of Transportation officials presented Geneva Parris with a replica of the actual sign, which was unveiled by Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan and Commissioner Conrad Burell, who serves on the state Board of Transportation. – Herald photo by Justin Goble
“He lived and worked in this community, and ultimately he gave his life for it,” McMahan said. “He loved this community and strived to do his best for it.”
“We allocate money to road improvements and bridge namings, but it’s not often when I do these ceremonies that I know the person well,” said Commissioner Conrad Burrell who serves on the state Board of Transportation. “He was a good friend of mine, and I know this means a lot to so many others as well.”
Parris, who donated the land for the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Fire Department’s first fire station and served as its first fire chief, suffered a heart attack while on a May 21, 1993 first responder call to assist a man trapped by a boulder. Though he was taken from the scene alive, he never recovered and died nine months later.
“It happened just 200 yards below the cross at Mt. Lyn Lowry – about a 5,500-foot elevation,” said Johnny Nicholson, Balsam fire chief and Parris’ son-in-law. “As incident commander, Jake had to climb up and down the steep mountainside several times for equipment.
“He also helped carry the victim up the hill to the Mission Air Medical Ambulance,” said Nicholson. “As a result of this strenuous effort, Jake suffered a heart attack. Because of Jake’s efforts, the victim survived.”
“After his heart attack, Jake was never able to return to work,” Geneva Parris said. “He was permanently and totally disabled.”
It was announced July 17 that the bridge that crosses Dark Ridge Road would be named for Parris.
“I introduced that resolution to the commissioners because of Parris’ lifelong service and commitment to Jackson County,” McMahan said. “He lived in that community all of his life, he donated the land for the first fire station there and he was the first fire chief. He gave his life in the line of duty. I think people like that need to be recognized.”
|
