Retired Captain E.E. (Buddy) (Fatz) Harden Passed away August 14, 2010.

Then, Lieutenant Harden was the first President of IAFF Local 1534 in Jacksonville, FL. The original local 122 had been dissolved many years before and Captain Harden was instrumental in resurrecting a local for the JFRD. Local 1534 later adopted it's original local number of 122. The picture above was from the1973 yearbook. Captain Harden is standing on the left behind Mayor Hans Tanzler. From left to right, Capt Harden, Billy Freedman, Rob Caulk, Don Ellis, Bill Sobel.
Lt. Harden (1973)		Captain Harden (2009)

Viewing was Monday August 16, 2010 at Cedar Bay Funeral Home from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM

405 New Berlin Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Phone Number: (904) 714-1110

Funeral Services were held Tuesday August 17, 2010 (B shift) at 10:00 AM

Highlands Baptist Church
2159 Broward Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218-5397
(904) 751-3909

Internment at:

Evergreen Cemetery
4535 N Main St
Jacksonville, FL 32206-1495

The following is from the Times Union:

HARDEN Edward Earl 'Buddy' Harden, Sr. (80), went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August, 14, 2010. He was born July 30, 1930 in Greenville, Florida to the late Marvin and Mildred Kinsey Harden, Sr. Buddy had been a resident of Jacksonville, FL for the past 75 years and was a graduate of Andrew Jackson High School, 'class of 1949'. He was Baptist by faith and was a charter member of Highlands Baptist Church. After 32 years of service, Buddy retired from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department where he was known as 'Captain Fatz.' He spent many years as Captain of Ladder 1. He was an excellent cook and anyone who knew him would testify to that fact. Buddy also loved traveling, camping, fishing and was a Scout leader in the Boy Scouts of America. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. The family wishes to thank Community Hospice of Northeast Florida for their work and dedication to Buddy. They also wish to thank his caregiver, Mary Berridge with Comfort Keepers for her dedication and commitment. Buddy was predeceased by his brother, M.C. Harden. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sybil Harden; son, Earl Harden (Lynn); daughters, Sharon Broome (Roger) and Karen Harris (Eddie); sister, Betty Ruth Hoover; grandchildren, Sandy, Jedediah, Eddie III and Randy; great grandchildren, Dallas and Gavin and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 10:00am at Highlands Baptist Church, 2159 Broward Road, Jacksonville, Florida, with Dr. Arthur Taylor, Dr. Terry Gore, and Rev. James Bryan officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday August 16, 2010 from 6-8pm at Cedar Bay Funeral Home, 405 New Berlin Road

Captain Harden's wife, Sybil, is the daughter of the late W.E. Smith, Chief of JFRD from 1971 until 1974.

The pictures below are by Wayne Doolittle

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