Franklin, TN – After 44 years in the fire service, including the last 25 years with the Franklin Fire Department, Lieutenant Steve Raymer will retire at the end of the month. A retirement celebration honoring his career will take place on Thursday, July 30, at 2:30 PM at Franklin Fire Station 7, 1972 John Fitzgerald Drive. View the event flyer here.

A Kentucky native, Raymer and his family relocated to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, shortly after he graduated from Webster County High School in Dixon, Kentucky. 

He and his younger brother, Von, began volunteering with the La Vergne Fire Department as a way to meet people. Raymer fondly remembers riding the tailboard with his brother to their first structure fire in 1982.

Raymer served as a volunteer firefighter with the La Vergne Fire Department on and off for 15 years before pursuing firefighting as a full-time career in 1997. After four years with La Vergne, he joined the Franklin Fire Department in 2001. 

Promoted from Firefighter to Engineer in 2006 and from Engineer to Lieutenant in 2012, Raymer spent his Franklin career serving at every fire station in the city while helping the department grow alongside the community it protects.

During his career with the Franklin Fire Department, Raymer earned numerous commendations for his service, including the department's Meritorious Service Award in 2010 for battling side-by-side house fires in the flooded Fieldstone Farms neighborhood during the historic May 2010 flood. He also received three Phoenix Awards, recognizing successful resuscitations of cardiac arrest patients. 

Reflecting on his 44-year career, Raymer says several people, places, and moments stand out. Among his favorite memories is his very first day with the Franklin Fire Department. "I'll never forget Fire Chief Don Claiborne presenting me with my first Franklin Fire Department badge and a key to all the fire stations," Raymer said.

He also recalls one of the more unusual assignments of his career during the COVID-19 pandemic, when firefighters were divided into temporary quarters to reduce potential exposure. Engine 6 was relocated to Centennial High School, where Raymer and his crew spent several months living out of the girls' locker room while the engine was stationed outside the school. 

Another unforgettable experience came after the fatal fuel tanker crash on I-65 that destroyed the Goose Creek Bypass–Peytonsville Road overpass bridge. Because the loss of the bridge eliminated a critical access route for emergency response, the department established a temporary fire station on the east side of the interstate until permanent Station 7 could be built. Raymer recalls serving there while the permanent station was under construction. The temporary station initially operated from the Green Room at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center before moving to a mobile home on the property.

While those experiences stand out, Raymer says the people in his life made the greatest impact on his career. "I have had many great supervisors over the years, but I would have to say one of my favorites is my current supervisor, Captain Joe Hill," he said.

Raymer says he is grateful to his older brother, Eddie, for encouraging him to pursue firefighting as a full-time career. He also cherishes the memory of his father pinning on his lieutenant's badge before his passing in 2013. But above all, he credits his wife, Tammy, for making his career possible. "Family is so important in the fire service," Raymer said. "Tammy has been my rock throughout my career, holding down the fort while I was away on shift, attending school activities, helping with homework, and taking care of flat tires, dead batteries, and home repairs because, as every first responder knows, things only break at home when you're on shift." 

Over the past 25 years, Raymer has watched Franklin and its fire department evolve together. "Franklin has grown tremendously since I started in 2001, from a small town into a thriving city attracting residents and the headquarters of many major companies," he said. "The fire service has grown right along with it, taking on new responsibilities and specialized rescue disciplines such as hazardous materials response, swift water rescue, trench rescue, high-angle rescue, and heavy rescue while continuing to serve our community."

As he prepares for retirement, Raymer looks forward to traveling, spending more time with family, and tackling home improvement projects that have waited patiently throughout his career. He and Tammy recently became empty nesters after their son, Tanner, married his wife, Tori. Their family also includes their daughter, Mackenzie, and her husband, Corbin. "My children are my pride and joy and my greatest successes," Raymer said. 

While Raymer considers his family to be his greatest accomplishment, he says the smartest career decision he ever made was joining the Franklin Fire Department. "I am proud of my career as a firefighter and my service to the citizens of Franklin and Middle Tennessee. It has been my honor to serve."

Fire Chief Glenn Johnson said Raymer's 44-year career reflects the dedication and professionalism that define the Franklin Fire Department. "Lieutenant Raymer has dedicated more than four decades of his life to serving others, including 25 years with the Franklin Fire Department," Johnson said. "His professionalism, leadership, and commitment to our community have made a lasting impact on this department. We congratulate Steve on an outstanding career and wish him and Tammy all the best in retirement." 

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