/
Print
Services
Residents
Business
Visitors
Government
City of Knoxville
Blogs
City Blog
Former Fire Chief Eddie Cure...
Former Fire Chief Eddie Cureton Remembered for His Passion, Mentorship
Pat Edward Cureton, a Knoxville firefighter whose career spanned four decades and who served as KFD’s 13th Fire Chief, died January 5. He was 82.
Chief Cureton joined the Fire Department in June 1964. He served as Director of Emergency Services for the 1982 World’s Fair and was an emergency services consultant during the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans. He had retired but was called back to active duty in 2002 by Mayor Victor Ashe, who asked Cureton to serve as Fire Chief.
“Few firefighters in the City's history were as revered as Chief Eddie Cureton,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our firefighters and the Cureton family and friends.”
Chief Cureton led KFD through 2004. His younger brother Bruce Cureton had previously served as Chief from 1982 to 1997. Combined, the brothers served as Chief for more than 17 years.
Current Chief Stan Sharp was a Captain assigned to the Training Center when Ed Cureton was Chief 16 years ago. Though they worked together, Sharp’s most vivid memories of Chief Cureton come from shared experiences after Chief Cureton had retired.
“No one was more passionate about the Fire Department than Eddie Cureton,” Sharp said. “His passion for the Knoxville Fire Department, both during his active service with the department and during his retirement, was unparalleled.
“Even after retiring, Chief Cureton was at every KFD event that he could possibly attend, proudly wearing his uniform.”
Sharp said he appreciated Chief Cureton’s willingness to listen.
“Chief Eddie Cureton was a mentor and encourager to countless firefighters in the Knoxville Fire Department,” Sharp said. “He was a great student of Fire Department history and loved to share our history with others.
“I valued talking with him so much. He’d been in the Chief’s position, and he’d served so many other roles. Eddie had been there, done that, and he was always willing to listen and be a voice of encouragement.”
Chief Cureton had been an avid runner and a devoted fan of the Lady Vols and Fulton Falcons football.
These photos, Sharp said, are fitting remembrances of Chief Cureton in recent years.
He’s pictured pre-retirement (above) with Downtown Station firefighters and (below) at a graduation ceremony early last year; riding in a historic fire engine in the 2017 Christmas Parade; and carrying the Olympic Torch in 2014.
Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home and will be announced at a later time.
Posted by
evreeland
On 06 January, 2020 at 3:56 PM
Tags
West Hills
South Knoxville
Cumberland Avenue
KAT
Website
communications
Cumberland
free fare
Christi Branscom
Knoxville Bar Foundation
roadwork
redevelopment
311
United Way
CAC
Market Square
CBID
Let's Move
Urban agriculture
community gardens
Beardsley Farm
kids
fountains
neighborhood
NUSA
Houston Texas
City People
IACMI
economic development
ORNL
Edgewood Park
music
community
James Agee
library
PrideFest
Henley Bridge
marriage
KPD
Rausch
public records
Festival on the 4th
Transit
Smart Growth
climate
sustainability
Parks
Bearden
Everly
Jackson Avenue
development
» more
Recent Posts
April 23, 2024 Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory Newsletter Available
April 16, 2024 Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory Newsletter Available
Stadium Halfway Completed: Wooden Roof Installed - Next Up, Light Poles!
Meet Your Neighborhood Firefighters! Hundreds Attend Easter Egg Hunt / Open House at Station 12
April 9, 2024 Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory Newsletter Available
City Employee Hard at Work for 50 Years: 'I Love My Job, I Love Keeping Busy'
April 2, 2024 Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory Newsletter Available
Residents Weigh in on Future of McClung Redevelopment
March 26, 2024 Knoxville Neighborhood Advisory Newsletter Available
Urban Wilderness: 1 week, 2 milestones
Archives
April 2024 (8)
March 2024 (8)
February 2024 (10)
January 2024 (10)
December 2023 (16)
November 2023 (11)
October 2023 (11)
September 2023 (5)
August 2023 (13)
July 2023 (11)
June 2023 (14)
May 2023 (13)
Group Blogs
City Blog
KAT Blog
KPD News & Alerts
Magnolia Avenue Streetscapes Project
More...
Post Categories
City Events
City Services
Cumberland Ave.
Downtown
Government
KAT
Mayor Kincannon
Meetings
Neighborhoods
Outdoor & Recreation
Public Safety
Redevelopment
Road Work
Safety Complex
South Waterfront
Sustainability