Fire Fighters Mourn 'Old Man'
Flags at city fire stations were lowered to half staff yesterday after the death of John Conners, the colorful firehouse character who had lived with firemen since he was orphaned as a boy more than 75 years ago.
Conners, who had been admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital East Monday, died yesterday afternoon after a heart attack. Although no one was certain of his exact age, he was thought to be about 84.
Firemen will turn out in full uniform Monday for mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be in a plot at Calvary Cemetery which was purchased for him by fireman more that 30 years ago.
Conners was about 9 and recently orphaned in 1904 when he drifted into a firehouse and was adopted by the firemen. Conners, who was retarded, began sleeping under the hose rack at the No. 2 station on South Main.
Since then, more than seven decades of Memphis firemen "picked right up on caring, sharing and loving him," Fire Director Robert Walker said last night. "And it was not a required thing at all. He gave love back. It's one of the inherent things about firemen to recognize need."
Five years ago the city named a pumper after him.
In his final years, he lived at Fire Station no. 8 at 625 Mississippi, where the officers, who called him "Old Man," took turns to "bathe him, shave him and dress him," Lt. Chuck Newton said last night.
But he "Old Man" was sometimes "like a kid" and brought out the playfulness in the firemen, Newton said.
Conners carried a cap pistol he liked to shoot at the firemen. And "sometimes we'd give him a plain old table knife and we'd all run from him", Newton said. "He thought that was great, he thought it was funny. He was just like a little kid".
He was also irascible and "when he got mad at you he let you know it," Newton said. One of his favorite tricks was to twist a fireman's ear. He'd done it to himself so often that his ear was cauliflowered.
Conners liked buttermilk, but occasionally would take a stiff drink of something stronger. Sometimes he would stay out all night.
He loved cheap cigars and until his recent hospitalization smoked two dozen a day.
The men from the different firehouses would give him change and it was a long time custom until recently for him to make the rounds of firehouses on pay day. But he would never take more than a dollar.
Several years ago, firemen purchased an insurance policy for him.
Conners was convinced he was a deputy chief and in his gruff voice, which only certain firemen could understand, he would sometimes tell a man he was suspended.
But, Walker remembered, when the fireman would play along and tell him "Johnny, I can't lose my job, I've got my wife and family to feed", the Old Man would wave his hand and say "Forget about it, forget about it." He would get real "tender hearted "when a man mentioned his family, Walker said.
Conners had no family of his own other than his friends at the Fire Department. Captain E. J. Benson, his oldest friend who was among the four firemen at the Old Man's bedside when he died, said Conners told a story of his father being shot to death during a robbery at the grocery he owed.
Conners wore a fireman's cap and a badge that said "Mascot". But, he was forced to stop wearing the uniform he loved many years ago. The story goes that Conners, as he often did when he was younger, accompanied a pumper to a fire at the courthouse. Joe Boyle, who was commissioner at the time, didn't know Conners and when the man in uniform shouted "two alarmer", the commissioner turned in a second alarm on a fire in a trash can.
He was known for other mischief. There was the time the fire company responded to a call and returned to find Conners had eaten the entire ham being cooked for an evening meal.
Until some 20 years ago, he would leave the fire station early in the morning and walk downtown along Front and Main where he was known to most of the shopkeepers.
And until he had trouble walking, he would attend mass every Sunday.
Conners said he was Roman Catholic, but when the firemen 30 years ago could find no record of his baptism they had him baptized.
"I guess I could fill a book about him," Benson said.
"He showed so much love toward firemen," Newton said. "He never knew anything else in his whole life. He never can be replaced and never will be replaced."
The Commercial Appeal, November 9, 1979
_________________________________________
When I was a Private and detailed to the 8's (1978-79). John always slept in the first bed on the right of the bed hall from the locker room ( His name plaque is on the wall over that bed to this day). When he had to go to the bathroom room, he'd get up and always turn the lights on, much to the chagrin of all the sleeping firefighters. Back then the 3s & 8s both rode out of there. Later he had to have a rubber mattress for obvious reasons, but they would get up and change him and the bedsheets without much fanfair. The 8's was the only Fire Station back then that was allowed to have a washing machine and for that reason. The riding Chief would carry John around to the various Stations on Payday with his cigar box and each one would put change into the box for John's needs, mostly for cigars, but no "Brownies" (pennies). Capt. Ed Benson was the last Captain at the 8's to take care of John, and he was as good of man and as much of a Saint as you could ever see.
Captain Henry A. Posey (Ret), Memphis Fire Department 4/22/2014
______________________________________________
The name John Connor's has been pretty much forgotten, but if you were on the Memphis Fire Department in the 50, 60, and 70's you knew who he was. Sometime about 1904 a 9 year old lad, named John Connor's wandered into Fire Station 4 on North Main Street. The old 4's was where the Cook Convention Center is today. John stayed and the fire fighters took care of him. John was developmentally handicapped. John took meals with the firefighters and slept in hose rack padded with straw. John grew up with the fire department. In later years he was given a uniform badge, hat and a bed. Each day he made the daily rounds, walking and riding the street cars, (for free). He would stop at Bry's, Gridiron and the Little Tea room and have a bite to eat. They never charged him for the meals. Then it was off to the Tennessee Brewery for a freshly made beer. John would always stop by Head Quarters and Fire Station 2, where the men were always supportive of him. After all, he was the fire department mascot. In the 1920's every intersection downtown had a traffic cop directing traffic. On one occasion the Officer at Main and Madison, the busiest business corner in Memphis, stepped away for just a second. John, wearing his fire department uniform took the Officers position and within minutes had traffic thoroughly tide up for blocks. His uniform and badge was taken away, again. On one occasion, while wearing his uniform he was on the scene of a small rubbish fire, he was yelling " Second Alarm, " Second Alarm " Fire Commissioner Joseph P Boyle, who didn't know John, overheard him calling and the Commissioner turned in a 2nd alarm on a trash can fire. His uniform was again taken away. In 1949 he was baptized a Catholic and attended regular daily mass at St Mary's. In 1963 when Fire Station 4 was closed and torn down John was relocated to Fire Station 3 located at 200 Linden at Third... Captain J. E. "Ed" Benson and the firefighters there took care of John. They shaved, bathed, and washed his clothes. When Station 3 was abandoned, Engine 3 moved to new Station 8 on Mississippi north of Georgia. John was notorious for chasing you with a butcher knife and hurling those white ceramic coffee cups at you, if you displeased him, this was one of his ways of playing. He gave love and was given love by the members of the MFD. On payday, the Battalion Chief would take John around to the fire stations where he was given small change for his personal needs. John was quite a character, so much of one I really don't want to mention all of his antics, much of it fire station humor is sometimes better not to mention in print. When John died November 8, 1979 all of his funeral expenses had been paid for by the members of the Memphis Fire Department. He is buried at Calvary. We think he was around 84 years old. Fire Station 8 still has a name plate above the bed where he slept and the station has a display case with many of his belongings.
By Joe V Lowry
Flags at city fire stations were lowered to half staff yesterday after the death of John Conners, the colorful firehouse character who had lived with firemen since he was orphaned as a boy more than 75 years ago.
Conners, who had been admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital East Monday, died yesterday afternoon after a heart attack. Although no one was certain of his exact age, he was thought to be about 84.
Firemen will turn out in full uniform Monday for mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be in a plot at Calvary Cemetery which was purchased for him by fireman more that 30 years ago.
Conners was about 9 and recently orphaned in 1904 when he drifted into a firehouse and was adopted by the firemen. Conners, who was retarded, began sleeping under the hose rack at the No. 2 station on South Main.
Since then, more than seven decades of Memphis firemen "picked right up on caring, sharing and loving him," Fire Director Robert Walker said last night. "And it was not a required thing at all. He gave love back. It's one of the inherent things about firemen to recognize need."
Five years ago the city named a pumper after him.
In his final years, he lived at Fire Station no. 8 at 625 Mississippi, where the officers, who called him "Old Man," took turns to "bathe him, shave him and dress him," Lt. Chuck Newton said last night.
But he "Old Man" was sometimes "like a kid" and brought out the playfulness in the firemen, Newton said.
Conners carried a cap pistol he liked to shoot at the firemen. And "sometimes we'd give him a plain old table knife and we'd all run from him", Newton said. "He thought that was great, he thought it was funny. He was just like a little kid".
He was also irascible and "when he got mad at you he let you know it," Newton said. One of his favorite tricks was to twist a fireman's ear. He'd done it to himself so often that his ear was cauliflowered.
Conners liked buttermilk, but occasionally would take a stiff drink of something stronger. Sometimes he would stay out all night.
He loved cheap cigars and until his recent hospitalization smoked two dozen a day.
The men from the different firehouses would give him change and it was a long time custom until recently for him to make the rounds of firehouses on pay day. But he would never take more than a dollar.
Several years ago, firemen purchased an insurance policy for him.
Conners was convinced he was a deputy chief and in his gruff voice, which only certain firemen could understand, he would sometimes tell a man he was suspended.
But, Walker remembered, when the fireman would play along and tell him "Johnny, I can't lose my job, I've got my wife and family to feed", the Old Man would wave his hand and say "Forget about it, forget about it." He would get real "tender hearted "when a man mentioned his family, Walker said.
Conners had no family of his own other than his friends at the Fire Department. Captain E. J. Benson, his oldest friend who was among the four firemen at the Old Man's bedside when he died, said Conners told a story of his father being shot to death during a robbery at the grocery he owed.
Conners wore a fireman's cap and a badge that said "Mascot". But, he was forced to stop wearing the uniform he loved many years ago. The story goes that Conners, as he often did when he was younger, accompanied a pumper to a fire at the courthouse. Joe Boyle, who was commissioner at the time, didn't know Conners and when the man in uniform shouted "two alarmer", the commissioner turned in a second alarm on a fire in a trash can.
He was known for other mischief. There was the time the fire company responded to a call and returned to find Conners had eaten the entire ham being cooked for an evening meal.
Until some 20 years ago, he would leave the fire station early in the morning and walk downtown along Front and Main where he was known to most of the shopkeepers.
And until he had trouble walking, he would attend mass every Sunday.
Conners said he was Roman Catholic, but when the firemen 30 years ago could find no record of his baptism they had him baptized.
"I guess I could fill a book about him," Benson said.
"He showed so much love toward firemen," Newton said. "He never knew anything else in his whole life. He never can be replaced and never will be replaced."
The Commercial Appeal, November 9, 1979
_________________________________________
When I was a Private and detailed to the 8's (1978-79). John always slept in the first bed on the right of the bed hall from the locker room ( His name plaque is on the wall over that bed to this day). When he had to go to the bathroom room, he'd get up and always turn the lights on, much to the chagrin of all the sleeping firefighters. Back then the 3s & 8s both rode out of there. Later he had to have a rubber mattress for obvious reasons, but they would get up and change him and the bedsheets without much fanfair. The 8's was the only Fire Station back then that was allowed to have a washing machine and for that reason. The riding Chief would carry John around to the various Stations on Payday with his cigar box and each one would put change into the box for John's needs, mostly for cigars, but no "Brownies" (pennies). Capt. Ed Benson was the last Captain at the 8's to take care of John, and he was as good of man and as much of a Saint as you could ever see.
Captain Henry A. Posey (Ret), Memphis Fire Department 4/22/2014
______________________________________________
The name John Connor's has been pretty much forgotten, but if you were on the Memphis Fire Department in the 50, 60, and 70's you knew who he was. Sometime about 1904 a 9 year old lad, named John Connor's wandered into Fire Station 4 on North Main Street. The old 4's was where the Cook Convention Center is today. John stayed and the fire fighters took care of him. John was developmentally handicapped. John took meals with the firefighters and slept in hose rack padded with straw. John grew up with the fire department. In later years he was given a uniform badge, hat and a bed. Each day he made the daily rounds, walking and riding the street cars, (for free). He would stop at Bry's, Gridiron and the Little Tea room and have a bite to eat. They never charged him for the meals. Then it was off to the Tennessee Brewery for a freshly made beer. John would always stop by Head Quarters and Fire Station 2, where the men were always supportive of him. After all, he was the fire department mascot. In the 1920's every intersection downtown had a traffic cop directing traffic. On one occasion the Officer at Main and Madison, the busiest business corner in Memphis, stepped away for just a second. John, wearing his fire department uniform took the Officers position and within minutes had traffic thoroughly tide up for blocks. His uniform and badge was taken away, again. On one occasion, while wearing his uniform he was on the scene of a small rubbish fire, he was yelling " Second Alarm, " Second Alarm " Fire Commissioner Joseph P Boyle, who didn't know John, overheard him calling and the Commissioner turned in a 2nd alarm on a trash can fire. His uniform was again taken away. In 1949 he was baptized a Catholic and attended regular daily mass at St Mary's. In 1963 when Fire Station 4 was closed and torn down John was relocated to Fire Station 3 located at 200 Linden at Third... Captain J. E. "Ed" Benson and the firefighters there took care of John. They shaved, bathed, and washed his clothes. When Station 3 was abandoned, Engine 3 moved to new Station 8 on Mississippi north of Georgia. John was notorious for chasing you with a butcher knife and hurling those white ceramic coffee cups at you, if you displeased him, this was one of his ways of playing. He gave love and was given love by the members of the MFD. On payday, the Battalion Chief would take John around to the fire stations where he was given small change for his personal needs. John was quite a character, so much of one I really don't want to mention all of his antics, much of it fire station humor is sometimes better not to mention in print. When John died November 8, 1979 all of his funeral expenses had been paid for by the members of the Memphis Fire Department. He is buried at Calvary. We think he was around 84 years old. Fire Station 8 still has a name plate above the bed where he slept and the station has a display case with many of his belongings.
By Joe V Lowry
Fire Fighters Mourn 'Old Man'
Flags at city fire stations were lowered to half staff yesterday after the death of John Conners, the colorful firehouse character who had lived with firemen since he was orphaned as a boy more than 75 years ago.
Conners, who had been admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital East Monday, died yesterday afternoon after a heart attack. Although no one was certain of his exact age, he was thought to be about 84.
Firemen will turn out in full uniform Monday for mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be in a plot at Calvary Cemetery which was purchased for him by fireman more that 30 years ago.
Conners was about 9 and recently orphaned in 1904 when he drifted into a firehouse and was adopted by the firemen. Conners, who was retarded, began sleeping under the hose rack at the No. 2 station on South Main.
Since then, more than seven decades of Memphis firemen "picked right up on caring, sharing and loving him," Fire Director Robert Walker said last night. "And it was not a required thing at all. He gave love back. It's one of the inherent things about firemen to recognize need."
Five years ago the city named a pumper after him.
In his final years, he lived at Fire Station no. 8 at 625 Mississippi, where the officers, who called him "Old Man," took turns to "bathe him, shave him and dress him," Lt. Chuck Newton said last night.
But he "Old Man" was sometimes "like a kid" and brought out the playfulness in the firemen, Newton said.
Conners carried a cap pistol he liked to shoot at the firemen. And "sometimes we'd give him a plain old table knife and we'd all run from him", Newton said. "He thought that was great, he thought it was funny. He was just like a little kid".
He was also irascible and "when he got mad at you he let you know it," Newton said. One of his favorite tricks was to twist a fireman's ear. He'd done it to himself so often that his ear was cauliflowered.
Conners liked buttermilk, but occasionally would take a stiff drink of something stronger. Sometimes he would stay out all night.
He loved cheap cigars and until his recent hospitalization smoked two dozen a day.
The men from the different firehouses would give him change and it was a long time custom until recently for him to make the rounds of firehouses on pay day. But he would never take more than a dollar.
Several years ago, firemen purchased an insurance policy for him.
Conners was convinced he was a deputy chief and in his gruff voice, which only certain firemen could understand, he would sometimes tell a man he was suspended.
But, Walker remembered, when the fireman would play along and tell him "Johnny, I can't lose my job, I've got my wife and family to feed", the Old Man would wave his hand and say "Forget about it, forget about it." He would get real "tender hearted "when a man mentioned his family, Walker said.
Conners had no family of his own other than his friends at the Fire Department. Captain E. J. Benson, his oldest friend who was among the four firemen at the Old Man's bedside when he died, said Conners told a story of his father being shot to death during a robbery at the grocery he owed.
Conners wore a fireman's cap and a badge that said "Mascot". But, he was forced to stop wearing the uniform he loved many years ago. The story goes that Conners, as he often did when he was younger, accompanied a pumper to a fire at the courthouse. Joe Boyle, who was commissioner at the time, didn't know Conners and when the man in uniform shouted "two alarmer", the commissioner turned in a second alarm on a fire in a trash can.
He was known for other mischief. There was the time the fire company responded to a call and returned to find Conners had eaten the entire ham being cooked for an evening meal.
Until some 20 years ago, he would leave the fire station early in the morning and walk downtown along Front and Main where he was known to most of the shopkeepers.
And until he had trouble walking, he would attend mass every Sunday.
Conners said he was Roman Catholic, but when the firemen 30 years ago could find no record of his baptism they had him baptized.
"I guess I could fill a book about him," Benson said.
"He showed so much love toward firemen," Newton said. "He never knew anything else in his whole life. He never can be replaced and never will be replaced."
The Commercial Appeal, November 9, 1979
_________________________________________
When I was a Private and detailed to the 8's (1978-79). John always slept in the first bed on the right of the bed hall from the locker room ( His name plaque is on the wall over that bed to this day). When he had to go to the bathroom room, he'd get up and always turn the lights on, much to the chagrin of all the sleeping firefighters. Back then the 3s & 8s both rode out of there. Later he had to have a rubber mattress for obvious reasons, but they would get up and change him and the bedsheets without much fanfair. The 8's was the only Fire Station back then that was allowed to have a washing machine and for that reason. The riding Chief would carry John around to the various Stations on Payday with his cigar box and each one would put change into the box for John's needs, mostly for cigars, but no "Brownies" (pennies). Capt. Ed Benson was the last Captain at the 8's to take care of John, and he was as good of man and as much of a Saint as you could ever see.
Captain Henry A. Posey (Ret), Memphis Fire Department 4/22/2014
______________________________________________
The name John Connor's has been pretty much forgotten, but if you were on the Memphis Fire Department in the 50, 60, and 70's you knew who he was. Sometime about 1904 a 9 year old lad, named John Connor's wandered into Fire Station 4 on North Main Street. The old 4's was where the Cook Convention Center is today. John stayed and the fire fighters took care of him. John was developmentally handicapped. John took meals with the firefighters and slept in hose rack padded with straw. John grew up with the fire department. In later years he was given a uniform badge, hat and a bed. Each day he made the daily rounds, walking and riding the street cars, (for free). He would stop at Bry's, Gridiron and the Little Tea room and have a bite to eat. They never charged him for the meals. Then it was off to the Tennessee Brewery for a freshly made beer. John would always stop by Head Quarters and Fire Station 2, where the men were always supportive of him. After all, he was the fire department mascot. In the 1920's every intersection downtown had a traffic cop directing traffic. On one occasion the Officer at Main and Madison, the busiest business corner in Memphis, stepped away for just a second. John, wearing his fire department uniform took the Officers position and within minutes had traffic thoroughly tide up for blocks. His uniform and badge was taken away, again. On one occasion, while wearing his uniform he was on the scene of a small rubbish fire, he was yelling " Second Alarm, " Second Alarm " Fire Commissioner Joseph P Boyle, who didn't know John, overheard him calling and the Commissioner turned in a 2nd alarm on a trash can fire. His uniform was again taken away. In 1949 he was baptized a Catholic and attended regular daily mass at St Mary's. In 1963 when Fire Station 4 was closed and torn down John was relocated to Fire Station 3 located at 200 Linden at Third... Captain J. E. "Ed" Benson and the firefighters there took care of John. They shaved, bathed, and washed his clothes. When Station 3 was abandoned, Engine 3 moved to new Station 8 on Mississippi north of Georgia. John was notorious for chasing you with a butcher knife and hurling those white ceramic coffee cups at you, if you displeased him, this was one of his ways of playing. He gave love and was given love by the members of the MFD. On payday, the Battalion Chief would take John around to the fire stations where he was given small change for his personal needs. John was quite a character, so much of one I really don't want to mention all of his antics, much of it fire station humor is sometimes better not to mention in print. When John died November 8, 1979 all of his funeral expenses had been paid for by the members of the Memphis Fire Department. He is buried at Calvary. We think he was around 84 years old. Fire Station 8 still has a name plate above the bed where he slept and the station has a display case with many of his belongings.
By Joe V Lowry
Flags at city fire stations were lowered to half staff yesterday after the death of John Conners, the colorful firehouse character who had lived with firemen since he was orphaned as a boy more than 75 years ago.
Conners, who had been admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital East Monday, died yesterday afternoon after a heart attack. Although no one was certain of his exact age, he was thought to be about 84.
Firemen will turn out in full uniform Monday for mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be in a plot at Calvary Cemetery which was purchased for him by fireman more that 30 years ago.
Conners was about 9 and recently orphaned in 1904 when he drifted into a firehouse and was adopted by the firemen. Conners, who was retarded, began sleeping under the hose rack at the No. 2 station on South Main.
Since then, more than seven decades of Memphis firemen "picked right up on caring, sharing and loving him," Fire Director Robert Walker said last night. "And it was not a required thing at all. He gave love back. It's one of the inherent things about firemen to recognize need."
Five years ago the city named a pumper after him.
In his final years, he lived at Fire Station no. 8 at 625 Mississippi, where the officers, who called him "Old Man," took turns to "bathe him, shave him and dress him," Lt. Chuck Newton said last night.
But he "Old Man" was sometimes "like a kid" and brought out the playfulness in the firemen, Newton said.
Conners carried a cap pistol he liked to shoot at the firemen. And "sometimes we'd give him a plain old table knife and we'd all run from him", Newton said. "He thought that was great, he thought it was funny. He was just like a little kid".
He was also irascible and "when he got mad at you he let you know it," Newton said. One of his favorite tricks was to twist a fireman's ear. He'd done it to himself so often that his ear was cauliflowered.
Conners liked buttermilk, but occasionally would take a stiff drink of something stronger. Sometimes he would stay out all night.
He loved cheap cigars and until his recent hospitalization smoked two dozen a day.
The men from the different firehouses would give him change and it was a long time custom until recently for him to make the rounds of firehouses on pay day. But he would never take more than a dollar.
Several years ago, firemen purchased an insurance policy for him.
Conners was convinced he was a deputy chief and in his gruff voice, which only certain firemen could understand, he would sometimes tell a man he was suspended.
But, Walker remembered, when the fireman would play along and tell him "Johnny, I can't lose my job, I've got my wife and family to feed", the Old Man would wave his hand and say "Forget about it, forget about it." He would get real "tender hearted "when a man mentioned his family, Walker said.
Conners had no family of his own other than his friends at the Fire Department. Captain E. J. Benson, his oldest friend who was among the four firemen at the Old Man's bedside when he died, said Conners told a story of his father being shot to death during a robbery at the grocery he owed.
Conners wore a fireman's cap and a badge that said "Mascot". But, he was forced to stop wearing the uniform he loved many years ago. The story goes that Conners, as he often did when he was younger, accompanied a pumper to a fire at the courthouse. Joe Boyle, who was commissioner at the time, didn't know Conners and when the man in uniform shouted "two alarmer", the commissioner turned in a second alarm on a fire in a trash can.
He was known for other mischief. There was the time the fire company responded to a call and returned to find Conners had eaten the entire ham being cooked for an evening meal.
Until some 20 years ago, he would leave the fire station early in the morning and walk downtown along Front and Main where he was known to most of the shopkeepers.
And until he had trouble walking, he would attend mass every Sunday.
Conners said he was Roman Catholic, but when the firemen 30 years ago could find no record of his baptism they had him baptized.
"I guess I could fill a book about him," Benson said.
"He showed so much love toward firemen," Newton said. "He never knew anything else in his whole life. He never can be replaced and never will be replaced."
The Commercial Appeal, November 9, 1979
_________________________________________
When I was a Private and detailed to the 8's (1978-79). John always slept in the first bed on the right of the bed hall from the locker room ( His name plaque is on the wall over that bed to this day). When he had to go to the bathroom room, he'd get up and always turn the lights on, much to the chagrin of all the sleeping firefighters. Back then the 3s & 8s both rode out of there. Later he had to have a rubber mattress for obvious reasons, but they would get up and change him and the bedsheets without much fanfair. The 8's was the only Fire Station back then that was allowed to have a washing machine and for that reason. The riding Chief would carry John around to the various Stations on Payday with his cigar box and each one would put change into the box for John's needs, mostly for cigars, but no "Brownies" (pennies). Capt. Ed Benson was the last Captain at the 8's to take care of John, and he was as good of man and as much of a Saint as you could ever see.
Captain Henry A. Posey (Ret), Memphis Fire Department 4/22/2014
______________________________________________
The name John Connor's has been pretty much forgotten, but if you were on the Memphis Fire Department in the 50, 60, and 70's you knew who he was. Sometime about 1904 a 9 year old lad, named John Connor's wandered into Fire Station 4 on North Main Street. The old 4's was where the Cook Convention Center is today. John stayed and the fire fighters took care of him. John was developmentally handicapped. John took meals with the firefighters and slept in hose rack padded with straw. John grew up with the fire department. In later years he was given a uniform badge, hat and a bed. Each day he made the daily rounds, walking and riding the street cars, (for free). He would stop at Bry's, Gridiron and the Little Tea room and have a bite to eat. They never charged him for the meals. Then it was off to the Tennessee Brewery for a freshly made beer. John would always stop by Head Quarters and Fire Station 2, where the men were always supportive of him. After all, he was the fire department mascot. In the 1920's every intersection downtown had a traffic cop directing traffic. On one occasion the Officer at Main and Madison, the busiest business corner in Memphis, stepped away for just a second. John, wearing his fire department uniform took the Officers position and within minutes had traffic thoroughly tide up for blocks. His uniform and badge was taken away, again. On one occasion, while wearing his uniform he was on the scene of a small rubbish fire, he was yelling " Second Alarm, " Second Alarm " Fire Commissioner Joseph P Boyle, who didn't know John, overheard him calling and the Commissioner turned in a 2nd alarm on a trash can fire. His uniform was again taken away. In 1949 he was baptized a Catholic and attended regular daily mass at St Mary's. In 1963 when Fire Station 4 was closed and torn down John was relocated to Fire Station 3 located at 200 Linden at Third... Captain J. E. "Ed" Benson and the firefighters there took care of John. They shaved, bathed, and washed his clothes. When Station 3 was abandoned, Engine 3 moved to new Station 8 on Mississippi north of Georgia. John was notorious for chasing you with a butcher knife and hurling those white ceramic coffee cups at you, if you displeased him, this was one of his ways of playing. He gave love and was given love by the members of the MFD. On payday, the Battalion Chief would take John around to the fire stations where he was given small change for his personal needs. John was quite a character, so much of one I really don't want to mention all of his antics, much of it fire station humor is sometimes better not to mention in print. When John died November 8, 1979 all of his funeral expenses had been paid for by the members of the Memphis Fire Department. He is buried at Calvary. We think he was around 84 years old. Fire Station 8 still has a name plate above the bed where he slept and the station has a display case with many of his belongings.
By Joe V Lowry
