First Assistant Chief Gilbert L. Hovey
San Antonio Fire Department, TX

 

Cause of Death: Automobile accident
End of Watch: August 14, 1915
Date of Incident: August 14, 1915
Age: 36
Rank: First Assistant Chief
Status: Career
Badge Number: N/A
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Assignment: Supervisory position
Final Alarm: 104 Drexel
Nature of Death: Steering gear broke causing automobile accident.

First Assistant Chief Hovey died in an automobile accident when the steering gear broke on his car while answering an alarm. Chief Hovey was acting Fire Chief in the absence of Chief Phil Wright. Both Hovey and his chauffer, C. L. Burtner, were responding to a blaze in the 100 block of Drexel and traveling about 35 to 45 miles per hour when the heavy vehicle’s steering went out and the heavy car bounded over a curb and struck a telephone pole at S. Presa and Dunning.  Driver Burtner stated that when he lost control of the steering, he told Chief Hovey to jump and believed he was attempting to when the impact occurred. Chief Hovey was caught under the wreckage. He was extricated by arriving firemen and carried to the home of Dr. L. Jackson, 2327 South Presa, where he expired a few minutes later. The death of Chief Hovey was the first to occur in the San Antonio Fire Department as a direct result of motorizing fire apparatus.

Every man in the Fire Department held Chief Hovey in high esteem. He had recently been promoted and had received his full-dress chief uniform only hours before the accident. The Chief’s funeral procession was lead by the Chief’s buggy and drawn by Chief Hovey’s favorite horse “Bryan.”  Even after motor equipment was put into the fire service, Chief Hovey continued to respond to alarms with “Bryan.” The veteran Fire Department horse, lead by fireman C. C. Noll, drew the unoccupied buggy symbolizing the loss of one of this Department’s most beloved leaders.  

His wife, Lula, and ten year old son, Jerry, survived Chief Hovey. They resided at 318 Idaho.