Honoring a Fallen Firefighter: A Tragic Loss Underscores the Lifesaving Role of Defined Benefit Plans
Killeen Fire Capt. Marvin Taylor III died in a car crash early Sunday, May 11, after leaving an Austin hospital where his fifth child had been born. He was en route to pick up his other children when his vehicle was struck from behind at East Koenig Lane and Airport Boulevard, according to FOX 7 Austin. An Austin police officer witnessed the crash. The other driver was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Taylor joined the Killeen Fire Department in 2014 and most recently served in the Training Division. He had also been deployed with Texas A&M Task Force 1 and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, according to KWTX.
Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski issued a statement on May 13 acknowledging the department’s grief and thanking the public for its support.
“We are very fortunate to have known him for the 10 years he was with the Killeen Fire Department and part of our family, and I am personally honored to have spent the last 10 months with him assigned to the training division and seeing his face just about every other day up and down the hallways here,” Kubinski said.
The full statement is available on KCEN-TV, and a video of the address is posted on YouTube.
Taylor was covered by the Killeen Firemen’s Relief & Retirement Fund, a defined benefit pension plan created under the Texas Local Fire Fighters Retirement Act. Defined benefit plans offer lifetime retirement income and include survivor and death benefits for families of public safety personnel.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Capt. Marvin Taylor III and the entire Killeen Fire Department,” said Art Alfaro, Executive Director of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems. “His service exemplifies the dedication of our public safety personnel. This tragic loss underscores the critical role defined benefit pension plans play in providing financial security to the families of those who serve our communities.”
Visitation is scheduled for Monday, May 19, from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove. A fire service salute will occur at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Rosary and eulogy at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1001 Georgetown Road, according to Hoodline.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 20, at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church. Seating will be available for up to 400 guests, with overflow space on-site. A funeral procession will travel through Killeen and end at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown, where Taylor will be laid to rest with full department honors.
The Killeen Fire Department is collecting donations to assist Taylor’s family. Contributions can be delivered to the department. Additional support options may be announced in the coming days, according to FOX 7 Austin.
About the Author: Allen Jones is the director of communications and event marketing for TEXPERS. He joined the Association in 2017. Before TEXPERS, he worked in the news media industry, producing content for newspapers, magazines, and online publications and leading newsrooms as an editor and publications manager. [email protected]