Leitchfield Fire Department Chaplain Bueford Stapleton received a key to the City from Mayor William Thomason during Stapleton’s surprise birthday party, thrown by his family, friends, and fellow firefighters at the Ronald H. Hudson Leitchfield Fire Station on Monday, April 22.
In response to receiving a key to the City, Stapleton said, “It’s an honor. I appreciate it very much. It’s an honor that’s been given to a lot more important people than me.”
Stapleton has been a part of the LFD for 41 years, and according to Leitchfield Fire Chief Carl “Moon” Smith, was one of the LFD’s first-ever chaplains - a position in which Stapleton corresponds between the fire department and the state and keeps up the department’s records and training.
“He will be hard to replace,” Smith said. “He does an excellent job.”
Stapleton said he was elected as a chaplain of the LFD along with two other individuals in 1996 and is thankful for his time as a member of the fire department.
“The 41 years I’ve been on this department have been a great experience,” Stapleton said. “I wouldn’t trade anything. And if I could do it all over, I’d do it all over again.”
















