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Arnold combs was born July 24,
1921 at Topmost in Beaver Creek. He has volunteered thousands of hours of his time in rescue squad
and fire department service.
Arnold combs attended the Hoe
Hall grade school on Beaver and went to Wayland High School. Arnold laid pipe lines for Columbia Gas.
He worked in the coal mines 17 years locally before going to
Michigan to work three years in a factory. He returned to
Knott
County work 16 years on various road construction projects though
out the state. He retired in 1979.
Arnold was one of the original
members of the Knott County Rescue
Squad and Fire Department when it was formed in 1975 under the
leadership of George Kestel. Arnold was elected rescue squad
chief
in 1977 and continues to hold that position.
There was a desperate need for rescue squad work and for protection
when the new department was formed. Combs, working with others
in his community, aided the Hindman VFD, and the new Pippa Passes
VFD as they attempted to serve all of Knott County. Under
Combs' leadership, the Knott Rescue Squad provided aid in
surrounding
counties and has been recognized as one of the most dependable and competent rescue squads. In
the early years of the rescue squad, the
county did not have an ambulance service. Trained EMT's from
the
rescue squad stabilized accident victims or other people in dire
medical
need so that they could be transported to medical facilities.
Arnold Combs and his organization assisted in the training of other
emergency specialists and helped in the creation of other fire
departments in the county.
Arnold, trained in weather emergencies, has served as a severe
weather spotter for the past 15 years. He regularly checks
rain gauges during storms alerting residents downstream and
the National weather Station at Jackson.
Arnold Combs is a believer in the Old Regular Baptist faith.
He is
married to Minnie Martin Combs, originally from Mousie. They
have three children. Marvin Douglas Combs works for Consolidation
Coal
at Mousie and lives at Prestonsburg. Combs' two daughters are
registered nurses. They are Barbara Ann Centers of Kite and
Wanda Hall of Kite.
Arnold Combs is a hard working
soft-spoken volunteer who has been a good, caring neighbor to
many. He is considered a man of strong
moral character who has been honest in his dealings with others.
He
is a positive role model for the citizens of Beaver Creek and
Knott County. Note: Arnold was the son of Montgomery Combs and Canzella Hall. He
was
born 24 July 1921 at Topmost, Knott Co. Kentucky and he passed away
at
Topmost, Ky January 2001
Source: Lynda Combs Gipson Corbett Mullins
May 18, 2003 |
