Cleburn C. "Jack" Livingston: 25-year Dallas firefighter a trainer of many
08:16 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
Cleburn C. "Jack" Livingston served 25 years with the Dallas Fire Department and had trained 1,127 of the city's 1,398 firefighters by 1973, when he left to be the first paid fire chief in Euless.
Mr. Livingston, 84, died Thursday of complications from lung cancer at his Coppell home. His services were Monday in Colleyville, where he was buried at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.
Mr. Livingston was determined and confident, said Denny Burris, a retired Dallas Fire Department chaplain. Last month, Mr. Burris asked Mr. Livingston how he would like to be remembered.
"He said, 'I was one of the best firefighters who ever came out of the Dallas Fire Department,' " Mr. Burris said. "He looked at me and said, 'I was a good firefighter. I was a good firefighter.'
"A lot of people would say that's a cocky attitude, but it's really not," Mr. Burris said. "He was confident to the extent that he had the abilities, he wasn't frightened by it, he wasn't intimidated by it. He was willing to go whatever distance was needed to go in order to accomplish the task."
Mike Livingston of Lenexa, Kan., said his father enjoyed the camaraderie and action of being a firefighter.
"He liked helping people and serving," his son said.
Family was also important to Mr. Livingston, said his daughter, Donna Kindred of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas. She described her father as a prankster who had a great sense of humor.
"He was a great dad who took care of our family," she said.
In 1971, Mr. Livingston worked with Fire Chief Merrell C. Hendrix to help establish the city's program for emergency medical technicians. Mr. Hendrix died Feb. 23.
"Up to that point, the ambulances were associated with the funeral homes," Mr. Livingston's daughter said. "The drivers weren't trained to help the people they went out to rescue."
Not satisfied with being a rank-and-file firefighter, Mr. Livingston worked his way up the chain of command. He was named a battalion chief in 1957. On Nov. 16, 1964, his promotion to chief training officer required confirmation by a Dallas City Council resolution, Mr. Burris said.
Born in Tishomingo, Okla., Mr. Livingston grew up in Ardmore, Okla., where he graduated from high school.
He joined the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard, the Thunderbirds. The National Guard unit – ordered into federal service in September 1940 – took part in "some really nasty battles" in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II, Mike Livingston said.
Mr. Livingston fought in the battles of Kasserine Pass in North Africa, Palermo in Sicily, and Anzio and Cassino in Italy.
"He didn't talk much about it to us," his son said.
Mr. Livingston, who earned a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his service, suffered shrapnel wounds in combat and received a Purple Heart. He came to Dallas by way of a hospital in Longview, Texas, where he recovered from his injuries.
He worked for North American Aviation in Fort Worth before joining the Dallas Fire Department in 1948.
After leaving the Dallas Fire Department, he was the chief for about 3 ½ years in Euless, where he implemented his training methods, said Euless Fire Chief Lee Koontz.
Mr. Livingston was an avid sports fan who especially adored the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks.
Mr. Livingston was married to Virginia Livingston for 57 years. Mrs. Livingston died in 2002.
In addition to his son and daughter, Mr. Livingston is survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
08:16 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
Cleburn C. "Jack" Livingston served 25 years with the Dallas Fire Department and had trained 1,127 of the city's 1,398 firefighters by 1973, when he left to be the first paid fire chief in Euless.
Mr. Livingston, 84, died Thursday of complications from lung cancer at his Coppell home. His services were Monday in Colleyville, where he was buried at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.
Mr. Livingston was determined and confident, said Denny Burris, a retired Dallas Fire Department chaplain. Last month, Mr. Burris asked Mr. Livingston how he would like to be remembered.
"He said, 'I was one of the best firefighters who ever came out of the Dallas Fire Department,' " Mr. Burris said. "He looked at me and said, 'I was a good firefighter. I was a good firefighter.'
"A lot of people would say that's a cocky attitude, but it's really not," Mr. Burris said. "He was confident to the extent that he had the abilities, he wasn't frightened by it, he wasn't intimidated by it. He was willing to go whatever distance was needed to go in order to accomplish the task."
Mike Livingston of Lenexa, Kan., said his father enjoyed the camaraderie and action of being a firefighter.
"He liked helping people and serving," his son said.
Family was also important to Mr. Livingston, said his daughter, Donna Kindred of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas. She described her father as a prankster who had a great sense of humor.
"He was a great dad who took care of our family," she said.
In 1971, Mr. Livingston worked with Fire Chief Merrell C. Hendrix to help establish the city's program for emergency medical technicians. Mr. Hendrix died Feb. 23.
"Up to that point, the ambulances were associated with the funeral homes," Mr. Livingston's daughter said. "The drivers weren't trained to help the people they went out to rescue."
Not satisfied with being a rank-and-file firefighter, Mr. Livingston worked his way up the chain of command. He was named a battalion chief in 1957. On Nov. 16, 1964, his promotion to chief training officer required confirmation by a Dallas City Council resolution, Mr. Burris said.
Born in Tishomingo, Okla., Mr. Livingston grew up in Ardmore, Okla., where he graduated from high school.
He joined the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard, the Thunderbirds. The National Guard unit – ordered into federal service in September 1940 – took part in "some really nasty battles" in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II, Mike Livingston said.
Mr. Livingston fought in the battles of Kasserine Pass in North Africa, Palermo in Sicily, and Anzio and Cassino in Italy.
"He didn't talk much about it to us," his son said.
Mr. Livingston, who earned a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his service, suffered shrapnel wounds in combat and received a Purple Heart. He came to Dallas by way of a hospital in Longview, Texas, where he recovered from his injuries.
He worked for North American Aviation in Fort Worth before joining the Dallas Fire Department in 1948.
After leaving the Dallas Fire Department, he was the chief for about 3 ½ years in Euless, where he implemented his training methods, said Euless Fire Chief Lee Koontz.
Mr. Livingston was an avid sports fan who especially adored the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks.
Mr. Livingston was married to Virginia Livingston for 57 years. Mrs. Livingston died in 2002.
In addition to his son and daughter, Mr. Livingston is survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Cleburn C. "Jack" Livingston: 25-year Dallas firefighter a trainer of many
08:16 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
Cleburn C. "Jack" Livingston served 25 years with the Dallas Fire Department and had trained 1,127 of the city's 1,398 firefighters by 1973, when he left to be the first paid fire chief in Euless.
Mr. Livingston, 84, died Thursday of complications from lung cancer at his Coppell home. His services were Monday in Colleyville, where he was buried at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.
Mr. Livingston was determined and confident, said Denny Burris, a retired Dallas Fire Department chaplain. Last month, Mr. Burris asked Mr. Livingston how he would like to be remembered.
"He said, 'I was one of the best firefighters who ever came out of the Dallas Fire Department,' " Mr. Burris said. "He looked at me and said, 'I was a good firefighter. I was a good firefighter.'
"A lot of people would say that's a cocky attitude, but it's really not," Mr. Burris said. "He was confident to the extent that he had the abilities, he wasn't frightened by it, he wasn't intimidated by it. He was willing to go whatever distance was needed to go in order to accomplish the task."
Mike Livingston of Lenexa, Kan., said his father enjoyed the camaraderie and action of being a firefighter.
"He liked helping people and serving," his son said.
Family was also important to Mr. Livingston, said his daughter, Donna Kindred of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas. She described her father as a prankster who had a great sense of humor.
"He was a great dad who took care of our family," she said.
In 1971, Mr. Livingston worked with Fire Chief Merrell C. Hendrix to help establish the city's program for emergency medical technicians. Mr. Hendrix died Feb. 23.
"Up to that point, the ambulances were associated with the funeral homes," Mr. Livingston's daughter said. "The drivers weren't trained to help the people they went out to rescue."
Not satisfied with being a rank-and-file firefighter, Mr. Livingston worked his way up the chain of command. He was named a battalion chief in 1957. On Nov. 16, 1964, his promotion to chief training officer required confirmation by a Dallas City Council resolution, Mr. Burris said.
Born in Tishomingo, Okla., Mr. Livingston grew up in Ardmore, Okla., where he graduated from high school.
He joined the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard, the Thunderbirds. The National Guard unit – ordered into federal service in September 1940 – took part in "some really nasty battles" in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II, Mike Livingston said.
Mr. Livingston fought in the battles of Kasserine Pass in North Africa, Palermo in Sicily, and Anzio and Cassino in Italy.
"He didn't talk much about it to us," his son said.
Mr. Livingston, who earned a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his service, suffered shrapnel wounds in combat and received a Purple Heart. He came to Dallas by way of a hospital in Longview, Texas, where he recovered from his injuries.
He worked for North American Aviation in Fort Worth before joining the Dallas Fire Department in 1948.
After leaving the Dallas Fire Department, he was the chief for about 3 ½ years in Euless, where he implemented his training methods, said Euless Fire Chief Lee Koontz.
Mr. Livingston was an avid sports fan who especially adored the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks.
Mr. Livingston was married to Virginia Livingston for 57 years. Mrs. Livingston died in 2002.
In addition to his son and daughter, Mr. Livingston is survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
08:16 AM CDT on Wednesday, March 28, 2007
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
Cleburn C. "Jack" Livingston served 25 years with the Dallas Fire Department and had trained 1,127 of the city's 1,398 firefighters by 1973, when he left to be the first paid fire chief in Euless.
Mr. Livingston, 84, died Thursday of complications from lung cancer at his Coppell home. His services were Monday in Colleyville, where he was buried at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park.
Mr. Livingston was determined and confident, said Denny Burris, a retired Dallas Fire Department chaplain. Last month, Mr. Burris asked Mr. Livingston how he would like to be remembered.
"He said, 'I was one of the best firefighters who ever came out of the Dallas Fire Department,' " Mr. Burris said. "He looked at me and said, 'I was a good firefighter. I was a good firefighter.'
"A lot of people would say that's a cocky attitude, but it's really not," Mr. Burris said. "He was confident to the extent that he had the abilities, he wasn't frightened by it, he wasn't intimidated by it. He was willing to go whatever distance was needed to go in order to accomplish the task."
Mike Livingston of Lenexa, Kan., said his father enjoyed the camaraderie and action of being a firefighter.
"He liked helping people and serving," his son said.
Family was also important to Mr. Livingston, said his daughter, Donna Kindred of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas. She described her father as a prankster who had a great sense of humor.
"He was a great dad who took care of our family," she said.
In 1971, Mr. Livingston worked with Fire Chief Merrell C. Hendrix to help establish the city's program for emergency medical technicians. Mr. Hendrix died Feb. 23.
"Up to that point, the ambulances were associated with the funeral homes," Mr. Livingston's daughter said. "The drivers weren't trained to help the people they went out to rescue."
Not satisfied with being a rank-and-file firefighter, Mr. Livingston worked his way up the chain of command. He was named a battalion chief in 1957. On Nov. 16, 1964, his promotion to chief training officer required confirmation by a Dallas City Council resolution, Mr. Burris said.
Born in Tishomingo, Okla., Mr. Livingston grew up in Ardmore, Okla., where he graduated from high school.
He joined the 45th Infantry Division of the Oklahoma National Guard, the Thunderbirds. The National Guard unit – ordered into federal service in September 1940 – took part in "some really nasty battles" in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II, Mike Livingston said.
Mr. Livingston fought in the battles of Kasserine Pass in North Africa, Palermo in Sicily, and Anzio and Cassino in Italy.
"He didn't talk much about it to us," his son said.
Mr. Livingston, who earned a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his service, suffered shrapnel wounds in combat and received a Purple Heart. He came to Dallas by way of a hospital in Longview, Texas, where he recovered from his injuries.
He worked for North American Aviation in Fort Worth before joining the Dallas Fire Department in 1948.
After leaving the Dallas Fire Department, he was the chief for about 3 ½ years in Euless, where he implemented his training methods, said Euless Fire Chief Lee Koontz.
Mr. Livingston was an avid sports fan who especially adored the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks.
Mr. Livingston was married to Virginia Livingston for 57 years. Mrs. Livingston died in 2002.
In addition to his son and daughter, Mr. Livingston is survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
