Hydrants for Heroes

06/13/2020

Hydrants for Heroes is very grateful for our relationship with Dallas artist David Tidwell of www.DallasAirbrush.com. David helped us to create our last hydrant for the family of Dallas Fire and Rescue firefighter Scott Tanksley, that lost his life in the line of duty. We wanted to share some pictures of other hydrants that David has painted. His work is amazing!

08/03/2019

Today was a very special day for the Hydrants for Heroes team, we presented our second hydrant to the family of William “Scott” Tanksley to honor the life of a brave Dallas Fire-Rescue firefighter that gave his life in the line of duty.

Dallas Fire-Rescue Officer William “Scott” Tanksley answered his last alarm on February 10, 2014. He was working an accident scene when he was hit by a car and knocked from an icy overpass. He served with Dallas Fire-Rescue for 14 years.

Scott was born November 1, 1973, to Wayne and Nita Tanksley. His early love of baseball set the wheels in motion for a life dream of playing baseball professionally. In 1992, set to graduate from Kemp High School, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. He kept his commitment with Mississippi State University to play for the Bulldogs. Scott had an extraordinary college career pitching for MSU. He earned Mizuno Freshman All-American in 1993. The Minnesota Twins franchise drafted Scott his junior year at MSU. Scott’s brief professional baseball career ended after three years when he suffered a shoulder injury.

He went back to a quiet, simpler life in his rural hometown of Kemp, Texas. On February 14, 1998, Scott married the love of his life, Wendi. In 1999, he joined the Dallas Fire-Rescue family and began a life of serving others. If Scott wasn’t on duty at the station, he could be found working alongside his best friend and father, Wayne, in the electrical business.

Over the next eight years, Scott and Wendi welcomed his three biggest accomplishments, Laynee Elizabeth, Levi Wayne, and Lynlee Grace. Scott was very active in his children’s lives. He could often be found coaching his son’s Little League baseball team or cheering Laynee on from the sidelines in volleyball. He enjoyed coaching his children, not just in sports but in life. An avid outdoorsman, he instilled the love of hunting in his children as it was instilled in him by his father. He took every opportunity to share the seat next to him in the deer stand with Laynee or Levi or to play dress up and color with Lynlee Grace. A doting father, he took time to share his love of cooking with Laynee, snuggle and watch movies with Lynlee Grace, and spend quiet time waiting for first light during duck season with Levi. He was a family man through and through.

On September 3, 2014, Scott was honored with the Star of Texas Award, which is given to honor police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who are seriously hurt or killed in the line of duty. Scott’s family proudly accepted this honor on his behalf.

Scott is survived by his wife, Wendi; his beautiful children, Laynee, Levi, and Lynlee Grace; his parents, Wayne and Nita Tanksley; sisters, Nicki Stephens (Keith) and Christi Lively (Chris); his Dallas Fire-Rescue brothers; and a host of family and friends.

He was a quiet person who was always willing to help others without asking for anything in return.

Thank you to David Tidwell of www.dallasairbrush.com for helping us create this beautiful memorial hydrant and to Dallas Fire-Rescue Chaplain Elaine Maddox for helping us make this special day happen.

02/07/2019

It's been a while since we have posted anything! Our next hydrant should be done very soon! I can't wait to share the pictures with you all!!

08/10/2017

We just wanted to give everyone a quick update as to what is going on with Hydrants for Heroes. The body shop that we were using to paint our hydrants has gone out of business. We are working with another body shop for our next hydrant. Unfortunately, it may not be completed until later this year as they are backed up with work right now. We are currently working with a McKinney firefighter to secure a long-term relationship with another shop that will be able to help us on an annual basis. As soon as we present our next hydrant, we will post pictures!

08/11/2016

Soon we will be selecting our next recipient family of our memorial fire hydrant. We will select the family of a fallen firefighter from the D/FW metroplex. If you would like to nominate a family, please feel free to let us know. Last year we gave our first Hydrant for Heroes to the family of fallen Dallas Fire/Rescue firefighter Stanley Wilson.

03/08/2016

Great news!! We have been approved for our 501 (c) non-profit status. We can now start accepting donations for Hydrants for Hereos!! We are raising funds so that in addition to giving a one-of-a-kind memorial hydrant to the family of a fallen fire fighter, we can also present them with a check to help them through the holidays. If you would like to make a donation, please message me for our mailing address!! THANK YOU ALL!

12/15/2015

We are in the process of forming our 501(c) non-profit corporation. Once completed, we will begin to accept donations. It is our hope that in addition to presenting our one-of-a-kind memorial hydrant to the family of a fallen firefighter, we will also be able to present them with a check to help brighten their holiday season!

11/29/2015

Today was a very special day for the Hydrants for Heroes team. We presented our first hydrant to the family of fallen Dallas Fire-Rescue Fireman Stanley Wilson, who lost his life serving our community on May 20, 2013. Stanley's wife Jenny Wilson and two sons Luke and Noah Wilson were present at today's event as well as Stanley's mother, Nell Wilson. Also present today were Dallas Fire-Rescue Chaplain Elaine Maddox, Deputy Chief Daniel DeYear, Captain Jeff Modawell and many members of Stanley's team from Dallas Fire-Rescue Station 53. We are very grateful that we were able to create this one-of-a-kind memorial hydrant to honor the memory of Stanley Wilson.

08/28/2015

http://on.wfaa.com/1JkYG0Z

DALLAS — Elaine Maddox is leading the effort to find the long-lost relatives of five fallen Dallas firefighters who died many decades ago.

08/28/2015

Every 5 years Dallas Fire-Rescue has a Firefighter Memorial Service. The next one is October 24, 2015 at 10:00

08/27/2015

08/27/2015

Hydrants for Heroes is a non-profit charitable organization started by Kipp Cohen, Randy Wilson and Wayne Snider. The organization was founded with the purpose of honoring the memory of firefighters from our local D/FW community that perished in the line of duty. We will randomly select the family of one fallen firefighter per year to receive our unique, one-of-a-kind reconditioned fire hydrant that honors their memory. With your help, we would also like to make a cash donation to the family of the fallen firefighter to brighten their holiday season.

The idea of Hydrants for Hereos came about in August of 2015 while Kipp Cohen was visiting the scrap yard of his close friend Randy Wilson. While the two walked through the yard, Kipp inquired to Randy about a pile of decommissioned fire hydrants. At that point, Randy shared the picture that you see on our page with Kipp. Randy had his friend Wayne Snider, the owner of Cruisin Collision and Auto sand blast, paint, and customize this one-of-a-kind fire hydrant. Randy then presented that hydrant to his brother-in-law David, a San Antonio Firefighter on his 50th birthday in honor of David's brother Michael, that passed away in the line of duty.

After seeing this picture, Kipp was compelled to start this organization to continue this special honor that Randy had started. With the assistance of Dallas Fire-Rescue Chaplain Elaine Maddox, we have already selected the family that will receive our first "Hydrants for Heroes" in November of this year.