Lincoln Parish is mourning the death of Ruston Fire Department Chief Chris Womack, who died at the age of 54 after a brief battle with cancer. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker appointed Womack as fire chief in 2015 and says his leadership of that department is unparalleled.
“His men respected him, not because he was the friendliest guy and the easiest to get along with, but the fact that he was hard-nosed, but he was fair,” Walker said.
Walker says during Womack’s time as Fire Chief, the Ruston Fire Department achieved a Class 1 rating for the first time in the city’s history. The mayor says Chief Womack also played a critical role in the construction of a new fire station and fire tower for training. Walker says Womack started with the Ruston Fire Department in the early 1990s.
“He had a chance to retire three years ago. He had met that 30-year mark, but he wanted to stay on as long as I wanted to stay on. So I’m thankful he did,” Walker said.
Walker says Womack will be missed.
“We’re sad. We’re broken-hearted. But we know that he would want us to move forward and continue his legacy here in the city of Ruston and the state,” Walker said.
Walker says Womack found out months ago he had cancer after the disease was detected because of a new mandatory state cancer screening for current and former firefighters.
