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Lewis H. Baker, 81 of Murfreesboro, passed away Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Skyline Medical Center. He was born in Oakville, TN to the late Cecil and Martha Wiseman Baker. He began his fire service career in 1950 later becoming Chief of the Collierville Fire Department for twelve years. For thirty three and half years he was an instructor for the Tennessee State Fire School until his retirement in 2001. Lewis was a past Director for five years and a member of ISFSI, past President and member of Tennessee Firemans Association, a member of Westwood Baptist Church and a veteran of the United States Air Force. After his retirement he enjoyed riding his motorcycle, fishing and spending time with his family. He will be dearly missed by many of those whom lives he touched.

Lewis was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ruth Ballard, Velma Childers, Jewell Deaton and Alleen Redditt; brother, Stewart Baker. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Peggie Baker; son, Kevin R. (Angie) Baker; daughter, Celinda (Brian) Miller; precious grandson, Alex Miller all of Murfreesboro; sisters, Ona Emery and Jean Markham, both of Memphis.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Murfreesboro Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Thursday at 2:00 pm at Murfreesboro Funeral Home with Bro. Jason Morrison and Chaplain Charlie Vance officiating. Burial to follow at Roselawn Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Peggie L. Baker Medical Trust Fund at any Suntrust Bank or Westwood Baptist Church Building Fund.

"It is with great sadness we report that Lewis Baker passed away this morning (2/28/10) at about 6am. This is truly a great loss to the Tennessee Fire Service as well as the fire service around the country ," stated a release by Gary West on the Tennessee Firefighter's Google Group newlink.

Lewis was most known for his ability to inspire others about becoming great fire apparatus operators. His teaching skills were outstanding and he kept so many of us students at the old Tennessee Fire School on the edge of our seats to answer his not so tricky questions. One of those he was famous for was asking, “How long is a rope?”. When I went through pumper school in the mid-80’s I was so impressed that he knew every apparatus that every fire department had anywhere in the state and he could always tell you something you didn’t know about your own fire apparatus.

Lewis was a great teacher but also a former fire chief, a partner in a fire apparatus dealership, and instrumental in making many positive changes in the fire service. One example was his concept of stacking hand-lines on engines (commonly referred to as the “Baker Load” in Tennessee) was quite common in Tennessee before it was first introduced at the FDIC in Memphis. This concept changed the fire service as a whole as it later became the “Triple-stack Hose Load” which is used by almost every fire department in the United States. Lewis had may influences on us Tennesseans but also fire service professionals around the country. It has been great knowing Lewis both as an instructor and friend. He will truly be missed by many.

Please pray for the family as they suffer through this time. Of course, there is no word on the arrangements at this time but as soon as they are made available we will get them out to everyone.

Fire Chief Donny Green of DeKalb County, TN said "Lewis was a true icon of Tennessee Fire Service. His impact is beyond description for those that may not ever had the privilege to meet him ."