Bobby Leslie Boyles Jr.

Bobby's name is on the list of names at the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial (Emmitsburg, Maryland) and at the State Capital Grounds in Austin, Texas. 

Bob Boyles, Jr., was born June 7, 1961, and lost his life on March 19, 1981, in an accident, as the driver of the CVFD Fire Truck, responding to a fire, when a vehicle pulled out in front of the fire truck. His attempt to avoid a collision (which cost him his life) saved the occupants of the other vehicle from serious injury or death.

Bob was a fine young man, who loved (and was loved by) his family, his community, and working in the Crosby Volunteer Fire Department. He was home on spring break from Texas A & M University, where he was majoring in Business Administration. Bob graduated from Crosby High School, where he was an Honor Student, Mr. Catamount, National Honor Society, on the Student Advisory Council, Student Council, and in FFA. He was also elected "Most Helpful", and was Captain of the Crosby Cougar football team, which advanced to the State Quarter Finals, being named “Most Valuable Offensive Lineman” in 1978. He was also named to the first team in “all-zone”, “all-district”, and “all-area” play.

Bob began his involvement in the Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 12, serving as “mascot”, working around the station, cleaning up, running errands for the other fire fighters (on his bicycle), until he reached the age to become a “full-fledged” Volunteer Fire Fighter.

A quote from the local news reporter: “Bob was a young man you could depend on, and at the time of his death, in the performance of his duty as a volunteer firefighter, he was a MAN you could depend on. He loved the fire service, and he loved helping people. As one of his friends put it, 'That's just the way he was'. His family recalls how often he would come home exhausted, occasionally scorched, but never discouraged. Bob was a volunteer's volunteer - a department member who not only made calls without hesitation, but also participated in the special training and drills. He would help repair a pumper as quickly as he would don a bunker coat and start off to the excitement of a fire call or other emergency.”

Following his death, the Crosby Volunteer Fire Department built an additional Fire Station, dedicated as the Bob Boyles, Jr., Memorial Fire Station.

Harris County Commissioner of Precinct Two, Jim Fonteno, resolved that, hereafter, March 19 is to be remembered in memory of Bob Boyles, Jr.

Congressman Jack Fields supplied the United States Flag that now flies over the fire station, dedicated in Bob's memory.

At the time of his death, Bob was survived by his parents, Bob and Joyce Boyles; two sisters, Belinda and Bethany; grandparents; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. “He may be gone from this earth, but he will remain in our hearts forever……we find some comfort in knowing that he left this earth doing something he loved.”


 

    

The National Fallen Firefighter Memorial
Constructed in 1981 on the campus of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Memorial was officially designated by Congress as the National Memorial to career and volunteer fallen firefighters in 1990. The Eternal Flame burns in loving memory of all firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty..

 

Firefighter Memorial on the Texas State Capitol Grounds.