Calvert City is mourning the loss of former Fire Chief Fred Ross, a longtime public servant whose leadership, dedication and commitment to the community spanned more than five decades.
Ross, 82, died Friday, Sept. 18. He served the Calvert City Fire Department for more than 50 years, including 25 years as fire chief.
“Fred was my fire chief,” Mayor Gene Colburn said. “His commitment to this community was unwavering, and the safety and protection of our residents always came first. I saw firsthand the way he led the department. He knew what his firefighters needed, whether it was training, professional development, or simply encouragement to keep moving forward. He was a steady leader, and his commitment to the people of Calvert City was always a priority.”
Ed Rendleman, along with a group of dedicated volunteers, helped organize the Calvert City Fire Department on Jan. 18, 1951, and went on to serve as fire chief. Years later, Rendleman’s daughter, Sherry, began dating a man named Fred Ross, setting the stage for Ross’s somewhat unconventional introduction to the fire service.
During one of Fred and Sherry’s first dates, Fred was told it was time to meet her father. The conversation between Ed and Fred quickly turned from dating to the fire department. Rendleman made it clear that if Fred planned to keep seeing his daughter, joining the department would be strongly encouraged.
By the following Monday, Ross was in attendance at the fire department meeting.
Fred and Sherry eventually married, making Rendleman not only Ross’s fire chief, but also his father-in-law. Ross joined the Calvert City Volunteer Fire Department in 1968. After serving under Rendleman, he later became fire chief, turning his future father-in-law’s encouragement into a lifetime of service.
Retired Fire Chief Tim Davis, who succeeded Ross, said Ross’s influence reached far beyond emergency response.
“He was a great teacher,” Davis said. “I owe so much of what I know about the fire service to Fred and Ed, but Fred also taught me a lot about life. He believed that when you were a firefighter, you were held to a higher standard. You were expected to set an example for others. That was something he lived by and something he expected from the people who served with him.”
Ross’s leadership also left a lasting impression on those serving in the department today.
“Fred was a firm but fair chief,” Interim Fire Chief Brett Norwine said. “When there was an incident, he was all business and he also had a way of making training and fire calls memorable. He introduced a lot of people to the fire service and helped shape the way many of us approach the job today.”
Ross’s service extended beyond Calvert City. He served two terms as president of the Jackson Purchase Firefighters Association and five years as a Kentucky Firefighters Association regional director. In 2015, he was inducted into the Kentucky Firefighters Association Hall of Fame.
Ross was also a U.S. Navy veteran and Navy Seabee who served during the Vietnam era and was later recalled to active duty during Operation Desert Storm. His life reflected a commitment to service, whether to his country, his fire department, or his community.
“Fred’s legacy is bigger than the title he held,” Colburn said. “It is in the firefighters he trained, the people he saved, the department he helped build and the example he left for those who came after him. We have lost a great leader, but what he gave to Calvert City will continue for generations.”
The City of Calvert City extends its deepest condolences to the Ross family, current and former members of the Calvert City Fire Department, and all those whose lives were touched by Chief Ross during his many years of service.
Funeral Arrangements
- Visitation for Ross will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Calvert City United Methodist Church, 571 Oak Park Blvd. in Calvert City.
- Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Calvert City United Methodist Church.
- Fifth Avenue will be temporarily closed during the funeral procession to Calvert City Cemetery. The City Hall parking lot will be open for those who wish to gather and pay their respects as the procession passes.
