JERRY VAN RUSHING March 7, 1947 - July 23, 2011

U.S. Navy 1965 - 1971, Vietnam

Lieutenant, Dallas Fire Department Oct. 10, 1975 - Oct.10, 2005

W&F MC Member 963, Dallas Chapter Vice President 2000-2011

W&F MC Dallas Firefighters Chapter #8 retired the colors of Chapter Vice-President, Jerry Rushing with a ceremony and dinner in his honor on September 7, 2011.

President Richard Jolly welcomed chapter members, fellow firemen, friends and family to Willie's in Dallas to share their stories and memories of Jerry.

Chapter #8 member Bo Culp crafted a beautiful shadow box to hold Jerry's colors, which Richard unveiled to the crowd of more than fifty friends. The box also included Jerry's pins, a DFD challenge coin and many patches from runs and rallies. A hand tooled belt that Jerry made proudly showed "Wind and Fire".

Beside this shadow box was a smaller shadow box which displayed Jerry's 2007 4 for 4 rugby from W&F MC International. Jerry earned this for riding to all four corporate rallies in one year, he was the fourth W&F MC Member to accomplish this.

Jerry's son, Matt Rushing, told several stories and played a music cd of original songs written and sung by Jerry. Matt said he was able to "ride out" with his father one night and proudly watched from the Engine as Jerry chopped down a door to get to a fire.

Jerry was diagnosed with ALS in the fall of 2010. He fought the good fight with dignity. He loved riding his Electra-Glide but he really did miss that old ’99 Fat Boy. He never rode anywhere without his Colors. He attended the bi-monthly Chapter #8 meetings even when he could no longer ride. He will be missed.