A beloved fire chief for Clinton-Warren Joint Fire District has died following a medical emergency he suffered on Christmas Eve, according to a social media post from the fire district.
The district first posted on Christmas Day asking everyone to respect the privacy of Robert Wysong's family and to refrain from establishing any GoFundMe accounts or donations.
On Dec. 26, the district posted an update and said Wysong was hospitalized at Miami Valley, but that his condition remained critical.
"It is with the utmost regret we inform the community of the passing of Chief Robert Wysong," the district then posted on Dec. 27. "Chief Wysong was finally able to rest after an incredible fight following a critical medical emergency that occurred on Christmas Eve, accompanied by family and friends."
Colleagues and friends called him a "father figure" and "community person."
"He was always at the events we had," said incoming Clarksville Mayor Noni Wood. "You could call him and say, 'Hey tomorrow we have something can you make it?' He says, 'I'll see we have someone there.'"
Wood said Wysong grew up in Clarksville, where the fire department is housed.
"Most of the townpeople have known him all his life," she said. "In fact, they call him Bobby."
Wood said he was instrumental in launching a regional fire training center in Clarksville, which she called "one of the greatest accomplishments" of the fire department.
"He had been here so long he had been through about everything," said Wade Hall, who has worked with Wysong while serving various community nonprofits. "It's hard to make up for that."
Hall said Wysong always made time to show up for his organizations' community events.
"Big-hearted person," Hall said. "He would do whatever we needed to do to get the job done."
The district requested the privacy of Wysong's family and the firefighters of Clinton-Warren Joint Fire District be respected while they process and cope with Wysong's death.
"As a prominent staple in the community, Chief's impact on the community was equally as large as the hole in our hearts," reads the district's post. "Rest easy Chief, we love you and hope you are able to peacefully rest after one hell of a battle."
The post did not provide any information about what medical emergency Wysong suffered on Christmas Eve, but it did say the fire district would provide more information about dates for services for Wysong.
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