COVINGTON, Ky. — Before Lt. Dale Allen Brown was laid to rest Thursday, fellow lieutenant Jimmy Adams recalled what he believes made Brown a heroic member of the community.
“He was very good at what he did and he didn’t have to tell anybody,” Adams said of his late coworker. “Everybody just knew that Dale was good.”
Prior to Brown’s death from melanoma on Friday, Adams had a conversation with Brown about some of the retired firefighter’s final wishes.
“Very hard conversation to have. Probably one of the toughest things I have done,” Adams said. “Today we want his family to understand what he meant to the community, what he meant to the fire service and what he meant to the Covington Fire Department.”
"Today, we want his family to understand what he meant to the community, what he meant to the fire service, and what he meant to the @covingtonkygov Fire Department"- Lt. Jimmy Adams. Retired firefighter Dale Brown died Friday of melanoma, but his memory lives on. Story @ 5 @WCPO pic.twitter.com/3vi4thMinA
— Paola Suro WCPO (@PaolaSNews) June 27, 2019
Among Brown’s last requests, a bell that was hanging outside Brown’s home now hangs on one of the first firetrucks he ever rode — a truck Adams owns now.
“Every time its rung it’ll made me think of Dale,” he said.
Brown will be buried at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
He served the city of Covington for 25 years, and his melanoma diagnosis was related to his service, according to a news release from the city.
Brown’s death is viewed at the state level as a line-of-duty death — his passing considered job-related under legislation passed in 2016.
“You wear all the gear — your pores open up trying to cool off,” Adams said. “You absorb a lot of stuff in your body.”
Brown was 55 years old. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, his mother, siblings and nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions can be made to the following organizations:
- Covington Firefighters Auxiliary: P.O. Box 122426, Covington, KY 41011
- Firefighters Extinguishing Cancer: P.O. Box 332, Burlington, KY 41005
