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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Family irked by omission of name on plaque at Chattanooga firefighter memorial

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photo Family members of the two most recent firefighters who died in the line of duty view a new plaque honoring their memory Monday at the Firefighters Memorial on Georgia Avenue. From left are Nicole Daughetee, Linda Daughetee, Debbie Bowman Henderson and Chattanooga Fire Department Capt. Don Bowman.

KNOW ANYONE?Anyone who knows of firefighters they believe should be included on the memorial can contact Red Bank Fire Chief Mark Mathews at 423-877-7252.

Sirens wailing from fire engines would always draw the children in the Workman household to the front yard or to the windows.

Dottie Workman Womack, who was the youngest of five girls, would look for the impressive red truck. Her father, Paul Workman, was an engineer at the Chattanooga Fire Department No. 5 engine house. He was always driving.

Thursday marked 71 years to the day since her father’s on-duty death fighting a house fire at Rossville Boulevard and Dorris Street.

“We saw the engine go back. We didn’t know Dad wasn’t driving,” said Womack, who was only 12 at the time.