MORPHEW Richard P. (Dick) Morphew, 67, retired Jacksonville Fire Captain died July 31, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He was born in Dallas, TX on July 14, 1942. He was a Vietnam veteran serving with the US Air Force. Dick was a Fire Fighter with Gainesville and NAS Jacksonville prior to joining the Jacksonville Fire - Rescue in August 1968 in the last recruit class prior to Consolidation. Captain Morphew retired on January 2, 2004 after 35 years of service. Among his many departmental commendations and awards were the 1985 Firefighter of the Year and Silver Medal of Valor. During his distinguished career he was primarily assigned to Fire Stations in central City as he was promoted in rank to Engineer, Lieutenant and Captain. Dick was a graduate of FCCJ and a charter member of the Hazardous Materials Response Team. His later assignments as Fire Captain included Cecil Commerce Center and Jacksonville International Airport. Dick was a State Certified Paramedic and Fire Instructor at the Regional Fire Training Center. He was a Member of the National Fire Protection Association and the International Society of Fire Service Training Instructors, and served on the Executive Board of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters and the Firefighter Burn Foundation. Richard also served as President of the Morocco Temple Firefighters Shrine Club. He was a Board Member and President of the North Florida Leukemia Society Chapter, Executive Board Member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, and a USO Volunteer at JIA. He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Lori Lee (Stephen), sons Vance and Billy, and brother Tommie.

A memorial service was held be at the Jacksonville Firefighters Hall, at 618 Stockton St. on August 20, 2009 at 2PM.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to STARS of Amelia, PO Box 893, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 or the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Pictures by Wayne Doolittle