05/07/2026
May 10, 1982-
Today, let us remember Frank Tompkins, firefighter and former Chief of Morgan Township Fire Department (Butler County), who died on this date in 1982. His death stemmed from smoke he had inhaled at a fire 10 years earlier.
The son of a Cincinnati firefighter, Mr. Tompkins became the township's first fire chief in 1948. A mechanic, he served in that volunteer position until his death in 1982.
His death stemmed from smoke he had inhaled at a fire 10 years earlier, said Rob Kaehler, a Morgan Township firefighter who led the effort to honor Mr. Tompkins. Station 141 was dedicated in memory of Chief Frank L. Tompkins for his 34 years of dedicated service to the community of Morgan Township.
A permanent memorial, consisting of a red fire hydrant flanked by two large stones in front of the township's fire station and administration building. One stone bears the words, “This fire station is dedicated in memory of Fire Chief Frank L. Tompkins for his 34 years of dedicated service to the community of Morgan Township.” The other stone lists the names of the founding members of the Morgan Township Fire Department: Earl Bennett, Zelotes Brown, Homer Davis, Leonard Fagaly, Robert L. Kimball, Fred Mabis, Eli Parkhurst, Stanley Scheering, Carl Skjoldager and Mr. Tompkins.
Chief Tompkins was laid to rest at;
New London Cemetery
Shandon, Butler County, Ohio
Plot Info: Sec 1
