Jean McConghie Hords Creek Lake Get Directions Below
Odessa Fire Department Reunions by; Captain Don Ottinger, Retired

Back in the early part of 1980, Kenneth Cable, Wayne Coggins and L.A. Croom were sitting around their office one afternoon.  They were wondering where some of the guys who had worked and retired from the Odessa Fire Department in years past had gone to.

They decided it would be nice to get together somewhere.  They decided that July 4th would be a good date and Lake Brownwood State Park would be a good place.

Wayne Coggins contacted the people who were running the retirement fund and got names and addresses from them.  The three of them set about setting up a name and address list of their own and enlisted the help of their secretary in sending out invitations for a reunion.
     
So, the first ever OFD Reunion was about to take place.  On that HOT July 4^th weekend, eight firemen and six spouses showed up and had a grand time visiting and remembering other people who were not able to come that year.

In 1982, they decided it was just too hot and muggy in July for a reunion, so they changed the date to September 3^rd.  Labor Day weekend.  That year, thirty-two people showed up and more people kept coming each year.

L.A. and Mary Croom had been living in Brownwood during this time and had set up the reunion site for the guys.  In 1987 they got a job as Park Attendants for the Hords Creek Lake in Coleman.  There they had a large pavilion, which seemed just right for a reunion.  People were contacted and the first Saturday of October was set up for the reunion.  It has been held at the same location for many years.  Only recently has it been moved to a smaller camp area, but still at Hords Creek Lake.

The reunion started out with only fourteen people in attendance in 1980.  In 1997 there were 33 retirees in attendance with a total of 109 retirees, wives, family, friends and guests.  Since that time the numbers have been going down due to deaths, age of people and cost of travel.

On October 7, 2006, there were 28 retirees and with the wives, family and friends, there were a total of 64 in attendance.  The next reunion will be held on October 4, 2008.

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