Firefighters and first responders paid honor Monday to the man who started the Cole County Fire Protection District Honor Guard in 1998.
Larry Rizner, 81, died Dec. 28. His services were held Monday and included a procession of emergency vehicles.
He served 45 years with the Cole County fire district and was captain at CCFPD Station No. 4 on Monticello Road.
"Larry always had a good story to tell you that made you laugh," said CCFPD Public Information Officer Steve Cearlock, who also serves on the honor guard. "He was a fire equipment salesman for several years and was known for selling the 'jaws of life' to numerous departments."
Rizner saw many other departments had honor guards, Cearlock said, so he decided to put together a group of district firefighters so they could be on duty when the district opened a new facility on Monticello Road, but the unit expanded their service.