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MWCFD Retired, Midwest City, OK (2025)

12/16/2025

Our sincerest apologies for not posting this earlier. Rest in peace Brother Steve.

**** On Sunday, December 7th 2025, Steve Uselton, loving husband, dad and grandpa was welcomed into his Home in Heaven at age 74.

Steve was born on February 22nd, 1951 in Harrah, Oklahoma to Ervin B. Uselton and Irene C. Uselton. At the age of 18 he married Karen Trotter Uselton and they completed their family with two children at the age of 22. They were together in marriage 56 years.

He worked framing houses with his brothers for many years. He became a Midwest City Firefighter for 26 years and loved every minute of it. He loved the lake, fishing, and spending quality time with his family.

He expressed himself with such clarity and heart that people felt instantly at ease in his presence. He had a rare gift for making everyone feel welcome and loved, whether they had known him for years or had just walked through the door. His laughter—always quick, contagious, and genuine—had a way of lifting spirits, and he was a place of comfort not only for his family but for strangers who soon became friends.

Even though he faced frequent sickness and pain, he never complained. His quiet strength and resilience were part of what made him so deeply admired. He carried his struggles with grace, protecting those he loved from worry and showing each day what true courage looked like.

Those who knew him will forever remember his love of Merle Haggard, whose songs he played proudly and often—much to the playful torment of his grandkids, who could recite every lyric whether they wanted to or not. People were inspired by his energetic personality, his whirlwind presence, and the unmistakable way he could fill a room.

Steve was preceded in death by his father Ervin and his mother Irene, brother Bob Shultz and wife Bessie, sister JoAnn Cantrell and husband Ralph, brother Bill Uselton, brother Bud Uselton and wife Wanda, sister Bonnie Owens and husband Boyd, brother Jerry Uselton and wife Jewel, and brother John Uselton.

He is survived by his wife Karen Uselton, son Stever Uselton, daughter Sharla Flowers and Michael Case, grandchildren Conner Uselton and Mia Harris, Ashlin Flowers, Cameron and Brookelyn Uselton, Preston and Savanna Flowers, Mason Flowers, great grandson Hayes Uselton, and great granddaughter Drew Flowers, many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
His celebration of life was be held on Monday, December 15th, 2025 at Nicoma Park First Baptist Church.

12/15/2025

******* Monday Memories *******

Capt. H. Harper and Firefighter E. Forrester in 1981 at a firefighter muster in Oklahoma City. A firefighter muster is a competitive event where firefighters, often from different departments or countries, test their skills in challenges that mimic real-firefighting scenarios, focusing on teamwork, strength, and historical techniques like bucket brigades, fostering camaraderie and skill development for both seasoned pros and aspiring junior firefighters. Events range from running obstacle courses with heavy gear (like the Firefighter Combat Challenge) to classic drills like connecting hoses, axe work, and using antique hand-pumped engines to shoot water, emphasizing community, tradition, and physical fitness.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o OHS

12/12/2025

******* Fire Truck Friday *******

You’re looking at the representation of why so many kids of the 70’s and 80’s got into the Fire Service, well, Midwest City’s version of it. From 72-79 the famous TV show Emergency! ran on NBC and featured Squad-51, a 1972 Dodge D300 very similar to ours. Our rig was a 1982 Dodge D300 which went to Station 2 as the very first Squad-2. Squad-1 had been in service for several years and proved to be successful so the department expanded on the idea and placed this rig in service. The rig was given to the department by Oklahoma County Emergency Management in an agreement to provide fire and emergency medical services to some parts of the unincorporated areas of Oklahoma County. She served the community for about 10 years before being replaced.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o Raymond D. Woods, Jr.

Attn retirees: You guys may see 🫣this with a few others in a future project 🚒👕🤔

12/08/2025

******* Monday Memories *******

1978 - D. Ollar trying out the slide at Fire Station 1 which had opened the previous year. The gentleman at the top of the slide is believed to be J. Lemons.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in-house collection

12/06/2025

**** Fire Truck Friday - Update ****

History is not history unless it’s accurate. We posted yesterday on the very first new apparatus purchased by the department in 1945. The information that we had at the time stated it was a Ward Lafrance 750 when in actuality it is an American Lafrance (2 separate companies, same family origin).
The apparatus is a 1945 American Lafrance B-675-CO pumper, serial number L-2063. B-675 was the particular model of the 600 series produced in mass during WWII and were the last conventional (long hood covering the engine) style apparatus produced by American Lafrance. CO meant that it had a centrifugal pump, open cab. Few civilian models were made as most production focused on the war effort and even fewer are still in existence. It was ordered from American Lafrance in May 1944 by Chief Zimmerman and was shipped on the 9th of May, 1945. Delivery was taken by Chief Caveny on or about the 23rd of May. It had a 491 cubic inch V-12 gasoline engine made by Lycoming (famous for aircraft engines) and a 750 gallons per minute water pump with a 200 gallon water tank.
The rig was considered to be top of the line for the day and had a purchase price of $8,500. Chief Zimmerman said “There’s nothing else like this truck in Oklahoma County — and that includes Oklahoma City.”
The acceptance test was performed that Friday, May 25th at Belle Isle Lake in OKC. It took factory representatives about 4 hours to perform all required tests. The pump is rated at having a flow capacity of 750 gallons per minute of water but the engineers were able to demonstrate to all who gathered that it performed well above and beyond that mark and achieved a whopping 1076 gallons per minute. It was stated that it “shot a stream of water all the way across the Belle Isle Lake from the picnic house to the playground on the far side.”
Getting the history right revealed previously unknown information (unknown to us anyways) that we look forward to sharing in the future.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in-house collection

12/05/2025

******* Fire Truck Friday *******

You’ll notice this rig has been our page photo for quite some time but we don’t believe we’ve told the story BEHIND this photo …. Believe to have been taken in ~1946 in front of Fire Station 1 on Midamerica Blvd and features the first apparatus purchased new by the department. The department used a borrowed Engine from OKCFD prior to that. This is a 1945 Ward Lafrance 750. The firefighters from left to right are M.W. Johnson, John Riley, and Chief Caveny …. Capt. Riley went to St. Louis to get the rig and it spent Christmas ‘45 in front of their house prior to delivery to the station. The story is told by his son, Alan Riley, who went on to become a Midwest City Firefighter himself in 1962 and his dad, John, went on to be the Fire Chief for the USAF Academy.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in-house collection

12/01/2025

******* Monday Memories *******

We love doing this and sharing our history!!!! The following is a 1985 article from the Daily Oklahoman talking about the Midwest City Firefighter Clown Society. In this photo from left to right R. Olsen (Chuckles), S. Campbell (Juggles), T. Lawson (Hambone), and J. Williams (T-Bone) …. Not pictured C. Frownfelter (Gabby) and M. Womack (Droopy)

“”” Fighting fire with fun could become a new method of firefighting.
"Juggles" and "Chuckles" may appear to be clowning around as they juggle and ride their unicycles around a group of laughing children, but actually they are teaching those children fire prevention.
Known in real life as as Shane Campbell and Randy Olsen, the Midwest City firefighters say that as clowns, they receive the children's trust and attention.
Olsen said, "If we, as clowns, can assist in educating the youth of Midwest City and perhaps preventing even one fire or injury, then we will feel our existence is justified."
Olsen and Campbell, along with Tim Lawson as "Hambone," Carl Frownfelter as "Gabby," Mike Womack as "Droopy" and Jody Williams as "T-Bone," make up the Midwest City Firefighters Clown Society.
Each of the rookie firefighters has chosen his name to emphasize the character he has created.
Olsen said, "The group has had lots of fun developing the characters. It's kind of funny. Once we put on the makeup, we become the character we created.
"We had our debut at the burn center last week, and some of us were concerned as to what we would say or do, but once we were dressed and in front of an audience, we had no problem. We really became "Chuckles' or whoever our character was."
Their first official function at the Baptist Burn Center was a big success. Jeff Steele from the Oklahoma City Firefighters Clown Society met them in the parking lot to rehearse and reassure them.
The nurses gave them a list of patients, and they went door-to-door juggling, tying balloons and talking to the children. They asked the children how they had been injured so they could put together individualized educational programs for each child.
The clowns also visited the pediatric department, taking the children a sheet cake they decorated at the fire station.
Olsen said, "Clowns never crying almost was not true. It was a real tear-jerking experience. We really became aware of the suffering that goes on and realized that for five minutes, we brought some pleasure to those kids.
"There was one little boy about 18 months old that followed us all around the hospital. We wanted to take him home with us. We all wanted to go back the next day and in fact, do intend to visit the burn center once a month."
They also plan to visit other area hospitals, schools, churches and any group that desires their services.
Although the clown society's main purpose is public education on fire prevention with emphasis on youth, several fund-raisers also are planned. The clowns have taken on the project of raising money to buy a portable heart monitor for the Midwest City Hospital and ambulance service.
Campbell said the Midwest City Firefighters Clown Society is a part of the larger state society, which has about 85 members statewide.
Olsen said he had heard of the firefighters clown society before he became a firefighter, but did not find much interest in the department.
He called Oklahoma City's clown group called an "alley" and was told he needed five members to form an alley.
Before the week was out, he had six members and with the help of the Oklahoma City society, formed the Midwest City Firefighters Clown Society. Olsen is president, and Campbell is vice president.
Phil Cooksey, deputy chief and fire department spokesman, said the department is proud and supportive of the efforts of these six rookies and see the society becoming an intergral part of their fire prevention program. “”””

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o OHS

11/28/2025

******* Fire Truck Friday *******

Believed be the original Engine 4

1960 Boardman (F-1263) Dodge

She later served the town of Carter, OK. Believed to still be owned by an individual in Hammon, OK

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o factory photo

11/24/2025

******* Monday Memories *******

Pictured here in 1970 from left to right are T. Canfield, L. Tunnell, F. Cox, and P. Wilburn. Rather interesting perspective photo showing the view through an early self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask. Interesting fact is that, believe or not, SCBA’s were an OPTION to firefighters at that time!! In this photo is T. Canfield who would later go on to become Fire Chief for the department and would institute a policy that made wearing SCBA’s mandatory for fire fighter safety.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o OHS

11/21/2025

****** Fire Truck Friday *******

This is the original Engine 5, a 1983 Boardman (job # 2536) / Ford C8000 sitting in front of Fire Station 5 around fall of 1990 …. This rig was specifically purchased to go to brand new Station 5 which opened in 1983 as well. This was the second rig purchased by the department that had a “Canopy Cab”. This meant that it had seats behind the Driver and Captain that faced rearward so the firefighters didn’t have to “ride the tailboard” and be somewhat out of the elements.

This rig was retired around 1995 and went on to serve the town of Lexington, OK for many years. Unknown current status or whereabouts.

We hear there’s a funny story with this rig at the opening ceremony of Station 5 with Senator (then Mayor) Dave Herbert 🤔.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o in house collection

11/19/2025

Happy to help!!

11/17/2025

****** Monday Memories ******

Picture here in 1979 from left to right are M. Bower, D. Bain, and B. Day in front of the original Squad 1 during morning rig check at Station 1. We’re still scouring the archives trying to find a good photo of this apparatus but have been unsuccessful so far. If anyone out there has one can you please let us know. The Squad was a relatively new concept for the Midwest City FD and was the beginning of having every firefighter on the department trained to the Nationally Registered Basic-EMT level.

(Additional details / stories / corrections always encouraged and welcomed)

c/o OHS

MWCFD Retired