LEXINGTON, Ky. — This year marks 100 years for a Kentucky family serving the state’s fire departments.
It’s a new milestone that began in 1922.
What You Need To Know
- Captain Ryan Hogsten with the Lexington Fire Department carries with him a 100-year legacy
- His great-grandfather Leonard Hogsten started with the Ashland Fire Department in 1922
- His grandfather James C. Hogsten continued back in 1951, eventually becoming a chief
- Hogsten fulfilled his grandfather’s promise of serving in the Kentucky fire system 100 years
Captain Ryan Hogsten with the Lexington Fire Department carries with him a 100-year legacy.
Since 1993, Hogsten followed in his grandfather's and great-grandfather’s footsteps as he began his firefighting career.
“Having a family service that’s done this for a while, made promises, like I said to my grandfather, that we’d get the 100 years,” Hogsten said. “I wish he was alive to be able to see it. I know he’d be happy to see it.”
At his home in Georgetown, he shows off his legacy.
“My great grandfather died before I got the meet him,” Hogsten said. “But he was a fireman for 36 years. My grandfather was a firefighter for 42 years. And I am now working on my 29th year in the fire department.”
His great-grandfather Leonard Hogsten started in the Ashland Fire Department and grandfather James C. Hogsten continued back in 1951, eventually becoming a chief.
“My grandfather made captain and my great grandfather was his driver for his truck,” Hogsten said. “So my grandfather was actually in charge of his dad on the fire truck.”
Before Hogsten’s grandfather passed away, he made one request: a promise that the family would get to 100 years of service.
“He sort of made me promise that I would, that we’d get the 100-year mark,” Hogsten said. “Unfortunately, he wasn’t alive to witness it. But we want to hit the 100 year mark and in 2016 I had an injury that took me off the job for quite a while and that was the drive that brought me back to get the 100 years.”
This year completes that promise—100 years of battling house fires, rescues and keeping the Kentucky community safe.
The firefighter has been a captain with the Lexington fire department for 12 years. He said there are extended family members who’ve also served in the Kentucky Fire Service.