Today is a day that has great significance to me.  It was 19 20 years ago today that I lost one of the most important and influential people in my life: my cousin Tom Henson.  Tom was on a tractor, taking it back to his father-in-law and was struck by a drunk driver.  I could go on about the accident and his injuries, but this is about the profound impact he had on me his entire life.

Tom is the reason that I am in the fire service and he played a huge role in who I am as an individual.  I remember at around the age of 8, I was at his house and he would have been 16.  He was a junior firefighter and left on a call.  I can remember the orange coveralls that he had, the orange hat that had the Sullivan Volunteer Fire Department emblem screened on it and I remember the urgency with which he left.

The next time he left for a call when I was with him, I rode with him to the firehouse. He did not have blue lights or sirens so his drive was quiet, but I can remember the excitement of going on a "call."  He pulled up and ran to the doors to catch a truck.  I don't remember what kind of call it was, but I remember sitting in his truck and listening to the scanner until he got back.  It was the highlight of the day for sure.

The fire service influence not withstanding, he influenced everything in my life to some degree.  I remember getting a KISS album for my birthday from him when I was 7 years old.  And I loved it; my mom was not so thrilled, however.  I loved listening to what he listened to.  I loved watching sports that he liked.  The funny thing is, I never had to pretend to like any of it because I actually liked it.  In return, Tom never pretended to like hanging out with his younger cousin who was 8 years his junior, he genuinely enjoyed it.  He will never know how much I appreciated that.

My grandmother lived just a few blocks up the road from the firehouse.  After my grandfather passed away in 1982, all of the grandchildren would take turns spending the night on weekends.  Well, Tom had a little rebelious period and lived there for a while.  Well, I loved it and would spend all the time there that I could.

I can remember one cold, winter night, Tom and his friend Chuck, (who is the Assistant Chief for the city of Columbia, MO) were there and a house fire came out. It was probably around 11:00PM when it came in.  I sat there for about three hours and listened to the call.  When I knew they were close to getting home, I threw in some frozen pizzas and made sure they had something to eat when they got back.  They, of course, thought that was great.

On other nights that he was on calls I would stay up and listen.  Many nights I would fix myself something to eat and have a soda, just waiting for him to get back and tell me all about the call.  One particular night I fixed a pizza and went to the fridge to get a soda.  There was a Blues Hockey cup in there with soda already in it. Not wanting it to get flat, I just figured I would drink it and make him a new one when he got back. It tasted a little funny, but was okay with the pizza.  He got back, looking for his soda with Wild Turkey in it.  He quite amused to learn that I had drank it.

As I got older I couldn't wait to turn 13.  That was the age that I could become a "junior firefighter."  Tom started working on my parents as the date got close and with a little prodding he got them to let me join.  It was one of the happiest days in my life to that point.  Now, I was able to hang out with Tom at the firehouse and go on some calls with him.  It was a great time in my life.

Now when I spent the night at my grandmother's and the sirens went off or I heard it on the scanner, I would run down to the corner and wait for someone to stop and pick me up. Many times it was Tom, but others would give me lift too.  If nobody came or stopped, I would run the four blocks to the firehouse.  It was a great way to spend my weekends.

As I got older I got very involved in athletics.  Tom got hired on at a career department in St. Louis County and this only made me want to do that same thing that much more. One thing I will never forget is how on evenings, Tom would show up at my ball games.  Whether it would be basketball in the winter or baseball in the summer, he was there quite a bit.  I always wanted him to be proud of me and it meant a lot to me for him to take the time.

I remember my junior year in high school, we went to state in baseball.  It just so happen to be in Columbia at the University of Missouri.  Well, this was the same time as Summer Fire School and Tom was up there for that.  There is always a good time had by all at this event, if you know what I mean.  Tom took the time on a Friday night to come watch us play ball.  That is just who and how he was with everyone: he truly cared for those close to him.

I went through a rough spell right out of high school and lost touch with the fire service for a couple of years.  The one constant was always Tom and his advice. He was my post to lean on and he never complained, although I know he was frustrated with me.  My goal was still to become a career firefighter and he gave sound advice that has served me well.

Tom touched so many lives and was so important to so many that I will  never know.  He is still a huge part of how I act and who I am today.  Most of the positive attributes that I have today are because of my parents, my wife and Tom.  His influence on my life at such a young age is immeasurable.

The day of his accident I saw him twice.  I drove by Harry's Tire and thought about stopping, but didn't.  The second time he was at his dad's with the tractor and I was a block over at my girlfriend's (wife now) house. Again, I considered walking over to say "hey", and didn't.  I regret it every day of my life.

Today is "Tom Henson Day" as far as I am concerned.  Tom left a positive stamp on thousands of people. Those who knew and loved him, and those who only had brief encounters with him.  I thank God for the time that I had with him. My only hope is that I can be that genuine, caring and fun-loving to those around and near me.

The fire service lost a great ambassador on May 11, 1991, but his legacy and accomplishments both professionally and most importantly, personally will never be lost nor forgotten.

The bottom line is this: None of what I have accomplished in the fire service would have been possible had it not been for Tom and his influence on me and the values he instilled in me regarding the fire service.

God Bless you, Thomas Henson.  Thanks, too.

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