JAXRFA MEMBER PROFILE: AUGUST 2012

1973 yearbook picture	At the 2011 Luncheon

Joe Smith, (Craz, Bull Dog), was born March 31, 1948 in East Rainelle, West Virginia to Ruth and Dana Smith. Joe has one sister, Martha.

Joe attended Robert E. Lee and graduated in 1966. In his sophomore year he played football and in his junior year he played basketball and ran track. In his senior year he broke his foot therefore he played no sports that year.

Joe met Andra Leonard in junior high school and after high school they married in 1971. They have one daughter, Joy Ann Kline.

Joe was a member of the National Guard 146th Signal Battalion in Jacksonville,

Joe worked for Mitchell trucking company and then made the decision to be a fireman and was hired on November 10, 1970. His first assignment was Eng. 19 B shift and his first officer was Lt. Howard Barker and after one month was moved to the C-shift under Capt. Blackie Chaffee.

Joe was promoted to Engineer on Eng. 19 under Capt. Chaffee and left there to go to Eng. 6 with Lt. Dan Ayscue. Joe was promoted to Lt. and remained at station 6 until the station closed around 1987. Joe then went to Squad 22. In 1988 Joe was transferred to Sta. 18 as the Lt. on the Eng. Joe then made one more transfer to Sta. 45 where he remained for 1 ½ years until he retired in 2004.

Joe stated that his most memorable fires were like so many other members. The Triangle Fire and the Stewart Petroleum fire will forever be foremost in his mind.

Joe’s hobbies include, construction, hunting, fishing, and his animals. Joe and Andra have dogs, cats, raccoons and possums.

Joe has remained very busy since his retirement. Joe and his crew stay busy doing remodel work. He most recently remodeled Arden’s Country Café on Hamilton Street.

Joe state that one of his greatest accomplishments came during the Inaugural AAU Track and Field Meet in St. Petersburg, Florida. During the summer between the 10th and 11th grade Joe took two gold medals and set a State record in the low hurdles.

Joe has always been a supporter of Local 122 and under President Paul Dinkins, Joe was elected to Sgt. At Arms.

Joe likes to tell people that he was born on the same day that Chief Miles Bowers was hired on the job and they both retired on the same day in January of 2004.

	Joe Smith doing some tile work.
	Joe supervising one of his workers.
	Joe and Andra with their pets.