Fallen Gwinnett Firefighter Honored At State Memorial (Lawrenceville, Ga., September 8, 2014) – Fallen Gwinnett County Firefighter James Durwood Cox was honored some 33 years after his death at a statewide Firefighter Memorial Service at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. The service was held in the GPSTC auditorium on Saturday, September 6th at 11 a.m., and recognized firefighters from across the state that died in the line-of-duty.
Firefighter Cox died from a heart attack on August 13, 1981, while on-duty at Gwinnett County Fire Station #8 in Grayson.
Cox was 39-years-old at the time and was the first Gwinnett County firefighter to die in the line of duty. The decision to recognize Cox was based on changes to the national standards for classifying medical causes of death for on-duty firefighters. “While I never had the pleasure of meeting Durwood Cox, I have always been told of his great love for the fire service and the community. He is an example of the men and women who proudly serve the department today,” said Gwinnett Fire Chief Casey Snyder.
During the service, Georgia Fire Academy Director David M. Wall, commented that while all firefighters are heroes,
willingly putting themselves in harm’s way so the public remains secure, some firefighters are more than heroes. Those who are more than heroes are those who have paid the ultimate price – their lives. “The Memorial Wall is a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Firefighters and their families to the citizens of Georgia,” Wall said.
Prior to his employment with the Gwinnett County Fire Department, Durwood Cox served in the United States Army from March 10, 1971 until March 9, 1974 as an Engineering Mechanic and received an Honorable Discharge. He was in the Vietnam War and was awarded several decorations, metals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons. Cox also received the National Defense Service Metal, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal and Good Conduct Metal among many others. He was hired by the Gwinnett County Fire Department on July 10, 1974 and worked at the Grayson fire station at the time of his death.
Former Fire Chief Raymond Mattison, who led the department at the time, commented on the fact that Durwood Cox always had a smile on his face. “He loved the job so much, that we had to make him go home,” Mattison said.
Cox’s two daughters, Melissa and Teresa, still live in the Atlanta area and attended the service honoring their father. Both commented on the days as children that they would visit their father at the fire station and about how proud they are of him.
The service ended with a procession to the Memorial Wall, which is located in the courtyard of the training complex. The wall includes the names of all public-safety officials who have died in the line-of-duty. The crowds of family members and fire service professionals in attendance, approximately 150 people, were humbled to see the names of the sixteen public-safety members from across the state that was added to the wall on Saturday.
Firefighter Cox died from a heart attack on August 13, 1981, while on-duty at Gwinnett County Fire Station #8 in Grayson.
Cox was 39-years-old at the time and was the first Gwinnett County firefighter to die in the line of duty. The decision to recognize Cox was based on changes to the national standards for classifying medical causes of death for on-duty firefighters. “While I never had the pleasure of meeting Durwood Cox, I have always been told of his great love for the fire service and the community. He is an example of the men and women who proudly serve the department today,” said Gwinnett Fire Chief Casey Snyder.
During the service, Georgia Fire Academy Director David M. Wall, commented that while all firefighters are heroes,
willingly putting themselves in harm’s way so the public remains secure, some firefighters are more than heroes. Those who are more than heroes are those who have paid the ultimate price – their lives. “The Memorial Wall is a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Firefighters and their families to the citizens of Georgia,” Wall said.
Prior to his employment with the Gwinnett County Fire Department, Durwood Cox served in the United States Army from March 10, 1971 until March 9, 1974 as an Engineering Mechanic and received an Honorable Discharge. He was in the Vietnam War and was awarded several decorations, metals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons. Cox also received the National Defense Service Metal, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal and Good Conduct Metal among many others. He was hired by the Gwinnett County Fire Department on July 10, 1974 and worked at the Grayson fire station at the time of his death.
Former Fire Chief Raymond Mattison, who led the department at the time, commented on the fact that Durwood Cox always had a smile on his face. “He loved the job so much, that we had to make him go home,” Mattison said.
Cox’s two daughters, Melissa and Teresa, still live in the Atlanta area and attended the service honoring their father. Both commented on the days as children that they would visit their father at the fire station and about how proud they are of him.
The service ended with a procession to the Memorial Wall, which is located in the courtyard of the training complex. The wall includes the names of all public-safety officials who have died in the line-of-duty. The crowds of family members and fire service professionals in attendance, approximately 150 people, were humbled to see the names of the sixteen public-safety members from across the state that was added to the wall on Saturday.
Fallen Gwinnett Firefighter Honored At State Memorial (Lawrenceville, Ga., September 8, 2014) – Fallen Gwinnett County Firefighter James Durwood Cox was honored some 33 years after his death at a statewide Firefighter Memorial Service at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. The service was held in the GPSTC auditorium on Saturday, September 6th at 11 a.m., and recognized firefighters from across the state that died in the line-of-duty.
Firefighter Cox died from a heart attack on August 13, 1981, while on-duty at Gwinnett County Fire Station #8 in Grayson.
Cox was 39-years-old at the time and was the first Gwinnett County firefighter to die in the line of duty. The decision to recognize Cox was based on changes to the national standards for classifying medical causes of death for on-duty firefighters. “While I never had the pleasure of meeting Durwood Cox, I have always been told of his great love for the fire service and the community. He is an example of the men and women who proudly serve the department today,” said Gwinnett Fire Chief Casey Snyder.
During the service, Georgia Fire Academy Director David M. Wall, commented that while all firefighters are heroes,
willingly putting themselves in harm’s way so the public remains secure, some firefighters are more than heroes. Those who are more than heroes are those who have paid the ultimate price – their lives. “The Memorial Wall is a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Firefighters and their families to the citizens of Georgia,” Wall said.
Prior to his employment with the Gwinnett County Fire Department, Durwood Cox served in the United States Army from March 10, 1971 until March 9, 1974 as an Engineering Mechanic and received an Honorable Discharge. He was in the Vietnam War and was awarded several decorations, metals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons. Cox also received the National Defense Service Metal, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal and Good Conduct Metal among many others. He was hired by the Gwinnett County Fire Department on July 10, 1974 and worked at the Grayson fire station at the time of his death.
Former Fire Chief Raymond Mattison, who led the department at the time, commented on the fact that Durwood Cox always had a smile on his face. “He loved the job so much, that we had to make him go home,” Mattison said.
Cox’s two daughters, Melissa and Teresa, still live in the Atlanta area and attended the service honoring their father. Both commented on the days as children that they would visit their father at the fire station and about how proud they are of him.
The service ended with a procession to the Memorial Wall, which is located in the courtyard of the training complex. The wall includes the names of all public-safety officials who have died in the line-of-duty. The crowds of family members and fire service professionals in attendance, approximately 150 people, were humbled to see the names of the sixteen public-safety members from across the state that was added to the wall on Saturday.
Firefighter Cox died from a heart attack on August 13, 1981, while on-duty at Gwinnett County Fire Station #8 in Grayson.
Cox was 39-years-old at the time and was the first Gwinnett County firefighter to die in the line of duty. The decision to recognize Cox was based on changes to the national standards for classifying medical causes of death for on-duty firefighters. “While I never had the pleasure of meeting Durwood Cox, I have always been told of his great love for the fire service and the community. He is an example of the men and women who proudly serve the department today,” said Gwinnett Fire Chief Casey Snyder.
During the service, Georgia Fire Academy Director David M. Wall, commented that while all firefighters are heroes,
willingly putting themselves in harm’s way so the public remains secure, some firefighters are more than heroes. Those who are more than heroes are those who have paid the ultimate price – their lives. “The Memorial Wall is a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices made by the Firefighters and their families to the citizens of Georgia,” Wall said.
Prior to his employment with the Gwinnett County Fire Department, Durwood Cox served in the United States Army from March 10, 1971 until March 9, 1974 as an Engineering Mechanic and received an Honorable Discharge. He was in the Vietnam War and was awarded several decorations, metals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons. Cox also received the National Defense Service Metal, Vietnam Campaign Service Medal and Good Conduct Metal among many others. He was hired by the Gwinnett County Fire Department on July 10, 1974 and worked at the Grayson fire station at the time of his death.
Former Fire Chief Raymond Mattison, who led the department at the time, commented on the fact that Durwood Cox always had a smile on his face. “He loved the job so much, that we had to make him go home,” Mattison said.
Cox’s two daughters, Melissa and Teresa, still live in the Atlanta area and attended the service honoring their father. Both commented on the days as children that they would visit their father at the fire station and about how proud they are of him.
The service ended with a procession to the Memorial Wall, which is located in the courtyard of the training complex. The wall includes the names of all public-safety officials who have died in the line-of-duty. The crowds of family members and fire service professionals in attendance, approximately 150 people, were humbled to see the names of the sixteen public-safety members from across the state that was added to the wall on Saturday.
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