Our condolences to the Dawdy family, the Cotton City Fire
Department, the Animas Volunteer Fire and Rescue, and the
New Mexico State Forestry Service. Cotton City Fire Chief
Ralph Dawdy, 47, a veteran firefighter, also of the Animas
Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Bootheel Search and Rescue,
died Thursday night June 26, 2003. Ralph was responding to
the Jenny Fire in Gila National Forest with a loaded Animas
water tanker when he left the roadway of Forest Road 150
falling 123 feet into Terry Canyon overturning the tanker 3
times. Ralph was thrown from tanker and died at the scene.
Our brother Ralph leaves behind his wife and two teenage
children. A memorial for Ralph will be held Tuesday July 1,
2003 10AM at the Animas High School gymnasium. A
gathering will will follow at the Animas Community Center.
The family has asked that donations be made to:
