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- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 23 Jun 2004.
NEWPORT–Newport Fire Department Capt. Gary Miller was recently named the Tennessee Firemen’s Association President at its annual convention and training conference that was held at Paris Landing.
“I’m extremely honored to have been named President of the Tennessee Firemen’s Association,” said Miller. “It’s going to be a challenge and a lot of hard work, but I think it will be an ideal way to promote the needs of firefighters throughout Tennessee.”
Miller, who has been with the NFD for 26 years, said he had to serve the past two years on the TFA Board of Directors as the East Tennessee representative before becoming qualified to serve as president.
“I will assume the duties of president in July and will serve for a one-year term,” said Miller. “The Tennessee Firemen’s Association is the oldest fire association in the state and we’ll be celebrating 75 years as an association in 2005.”
“It’s humbling to know that I am going to be the president during the 75th anniversary celebration,” added Miller.
Miller said the association has more than 200 departments with all of its firefighters being members of the association as well as having individual associate members, who are not firefighters.
The other TFA Board of Director members are Bobby Neely, of the Nashville Fire Department; Frank Cotton, of the Memphis Fire Department; and Jim Whaley, of the Alcoa Fire Department.
Miller said the association contributes each year to the three regional Tennessee Hospital Burn Centers and it gives scholarships at the two annual events, the Tennessee Weekend at the National Fire Academy in Emitsburh, Maryland and at the Smoky Mountain Weekend in Sevierville.
“The association supports the new Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy at Bell Buckle, Tennessee,” said Miller.
Miller said the association has also partnered with the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association and the Tennessee Inspectors Association to form the Tennessee Fire Coalition.
“The association has been actively working with the state’s legislature and helped to pass 11 bills this year,” said Miller. “The biggest was the fire sprinklers bill for assisted living homes and residential homes for the aged which made it mandatory that smoke alarms be installed in all nursing home patient rooms.”
Miller said another major accomplishment was the passage of the death benefits bill that is funded by the state for volunteer firefighters.
“This is the first and only benefit provided by the state of Tennessee for firefighters,” said Miller. “We hope to work on getting it to include all firefighters and other emergency personnel this coming year.”
Miller said this was a special event and Gov. Phil Bredesen held a ceremony on June 17 at the state capitol for the signing of the new death benefit bill.
“We also hope that all state certified volunteer fire department firefighters will join the Tennessee Firemen’s Association,” said Miller. “The association works for volunteer firefighters as well as paid firefighters.”
“I have also been appointed to the committee to oversee the first annual Firefighters Challenge to be held at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy in September,” said Miller. “This is a team event for paid and volunteer fire departments from throughout the State of Tennessee.”
In attendance at this year’s convention was Newport Fire Chief Wayne Butler and firefighters Miller, Bryan Gregg, and Mike Ottinger.
Miller said Newport would be honored to be the host of the Tennessee Firemen’s Association Convention and Training Conference in June of 2005.
Miller is married to wife, Mary Lynn, and the couple has one child, Jamie Miller, 24.
Miller’s parents are Thomas “Ray” and Pauline Miller, of Newport.
Miller named Tennessee Firemen’s Association President
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 21 Aug 2007.
Thomas Ray Miller obituary
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, d. 7 Apr 2016, Newport Convalescent Center, Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee