Former Fire Chief Castleberry Passes Away

Flags at Town Hall were flying at half staff last week in honor of the life and service of former Fire Chief Larry Castleberry, who passed away a few days ago.

Long active in civic affairs, Castleberry, who was 74, led the Fire Department from 1978 to 1991 after seven years as Assistant Fire Chief. He began his career in firefighting as a member of the Archer Lodge Fire Department in 1957 before coming to Clayton in 1967.

Fire Chief Lee Barbee said the former Chief provided "encouragement, coaching and support" to the Department down through the years after his retirement "and right up until his final days."

"Chief Castleberry can take at least partial credit for the development and professionalism exhibited today by the Fire Department," Barbee said. "If you ask any firefighter what the Chief’s favorite reminder was, it would be, 'It’s not your fire, you didn’t start it, and you have to get there safely before you can put it out.' Anytime you called Larry with a problem, he was always available to assist you in your time of need. He was a friend to anyone and everyone. He knew you by name and knew something about your family. You thought you were going to tell him some news, but most of the time Larry already knew about it. He was a great man who will be very much missed."

Castleberry was a long-time member of the Eastern Firemen's Association, serving as its president. He was also a member of many firefighting organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the NC Association of Fire Chiefs, the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs and several local and state organizations. He served as a Magistrate for more than 30 years and also served as a Johnston County Commissioner.

An active participant in the NC Senior Games, he won a medal in the Bowling category. He was also a member of the Democratic Men of Johnston County and the North Clayton 1 Democratic Precinct Committee.

Chief Castleberry was a leading supporter and organizer of what is now know as the “Eastern Seminar,” an important weekend training school for firefighters sponsored by the Eastern Firemen’s Association.

"Chief Castleberry instilled teamwork in the Department," Barbee said. "One good example of that was in 1981 when Clayton Fire Department members rebuilt Pumper #4, a 1974 Ford Darley Pumper. This vehicle had some inherent water leak troubles. The water tank was 1200 gallons, but built out of 1/8” mild steel, and the bouncing and shock was tearing the bottom out of the tank. Members of the fire department invested countless hours of their own time and took the whole truck apart. They welded a new bottom on the water tank, painted the tank inside and out with a galvanize compound and completely reworked the body and pump, installed all new full-flow Akron valves and reassembled the truck. Seven gallons of red paint gave a lime green truck a new fire truck life, after seven months out of service."

Mayor Jody McLeod who called the former Chief "a very important member of our community for many, many years," has ordered flags at Town Hall to remain at half staff until Tuesday evening.