Published: June 28, 2009 01:02 am      

Profile: Frederick Allen Burroughs

Remembering ‘Fred’

Frederick Allen “Fred” Burroughs was killed when a propane explosion leveled a convenience store in Ghent on Jan. 30, 2007. Three other men lost their lives in the tragedy and five people were seriously injured.

Fred’s wife Hazel, her children and friends have established an unprecedented three separate permanent endowments at the Beckley Area Foundation in his memory.

Fred was born Dec. 21, 1955, in Beckley, the youngest of five children, to Mike and Betty Burroughs. The elementary school his brothers and sisters attended was just across the street from their home, and they all tell stories of Fred sitting at the fence and crying for them to come home and play with him.

Growing up, Fred loved to go fishing and camping with his dad and family. He enjoyed a happy, carefree childhood until his dad died suddenly of a heart attack at age 45.

Fred had a passion for sports and was an outstanding basketball and football player during his years at Shady Spring High School. He graduated in 1974. This love of sports led him to begin an officiating career at the high school level. In 2003, he was awarded the West Virginia Boys Basketball Official of the Year Award. He retired in 2005 with 25 years of service and cherished memories of officiating in six state boys basketball tournaments.

Fred began his firefighting career as a junior fireman at age 17. The Ghent Fire Department had just been formed and needed volunteers. It wasn’t long until firefighting was in his blood. Fred began taking fire and EMT classes.

He was eager to learn and learned quickly. He wanted to make a difference in the lives of others; he remembered feeling helpless when his father was stricken and he had no training in life-saving maneuvers.

Fred served 33 years with the Ghent Volunteer Fire Department, holding positions of EMT, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and chief. At the time of his death, he was captain of the department and served as a member of its board of directors.

When asked once why he donated his personal time and risked his life to be a volunteer, he answered with a question, “What if it was your loved one trapped in that car wreck or your home was burning and no one came?”

His income-producing job prior to his death was working as a building code inspector for the Raleigh County Code Enforcement Department. He worked with many citizens and building contractors, and answered questions and calmed fears about building codes.

Fred’s hobbies included deer hunting, NASCAR races, woodworking and spectator sports. Despite the many interests in his life, family still was his first priority. He was devoted to his wife of 25 years; his children, Christopher and Lindsay, were his pride and joy. He shared his love of hunting with his son and was thrilled with his daughter’s interest in basketball.

In October 2008, Fred’s name was added to the memorial wall at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Md. West Virginia had honored Fred in October 2007 at the State Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Charleston.

Hazel Burroughs tells why she chose to entrust Beckley Area Foundation with the memorials to her husband.

“When BAF was formed, I was a young banker at Beckley National Bank. I knew the directors for whom the first contributions were made. Sam Elmore and Don Hodson were always so supportive of the foundation, and I knew it was an organization I wanted to support as well. My children and I want to continue Fred’s legacy of contributing to the community, and we felt a memorial fund would be the most logical way to do that.

“Although our monetary donations cannot compare to Fred’s wealth of knowledge and dedication, our hope is that in some way people’s lives will be touched and they will in turn make contributions to our community.”

Hazel Burroughs is now vice president of sales and service, Raleigh and Summers County, for First Community Bank, the BAF trustee bank for each of the new endowments established in Fred’s memory.

The BAF Fred Burroughs Memorial Fireman Fund will generate income for training courses and safety equipment for firefighting purposes of the Ghent Volunteer Fire Department. The fund was established by Fred’s wife and children.

The BAF Fred Burroughs Memorial Scholarship Fund will support merit-based scholarships for a college-qualified outstanding male and a female athlete graduating from Victory Baptist Academy. Fred’s wife and children started this fund.

The BAF Burroughs Family and Friends Fund is a donor-advised fund which will allow the family to recommend various grant recipients as community needs and opportunities change over time.

Anyone may make additional gifts in any amount to any of these funds. Specify the name of the fund and mail contributions to Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main St., Suite 203, Beckley, WV 25801.