Kentucky Brotherhood honors Junction City firefighter

lance.gaither@bluegrassnewsmedia,com

The Kentucky Brotherhood made a stop in Junction City on Friday, July 19 to honor former Junction City Firefighter and Northpoint Training Center guard Jim Harris, who passed away in February of last year.

The Kentucky Brotherhood is an organization that rides bikes across the state in honor of first responders and their families.

“To be part of an organization that is riding for those who have been lost is a truly amazing calling,” said Ky. Brotherhood rider Eric Mankin.

The riders stopped at the Junction City Fire Department to rest and honor Harris. His peers from the Boyle County Fire Department, Northpoint Training Center, and Junction City Fire Department shared stories and reflected on the kind of person Harris was.

“He was kind, caring, and considerate of everybody. He will be missed,” said Junction Fire Chief Jerrod Elam.

As a guard at the Northpoint Training Center, he was known for his sense of humor and his compassion for the inmates.

“He was always there for whatever I needed. He always made sure everything was complete,” said Deputy Warden Daniel Napier. “He always had a way with words when talking to people. If I ever had an unruly inmate or we had someone with mental health issues, he was the one I would send. He could always talk to them and keep the situation calm.”

Harris’ longtime friend, Chuck Ellis, worked with him at the Boyle County Fire Department where the two formed a strong friendship. Ellis served a supporting role for the Brotherhood’s ride. In future rides with the Brotherhood, a member will always wear the jersey from this year’s ride.

“He always had a smile on his face and would crack a joke,” Ellis said. “We are here to say he will never be forgotten.  He is going to continue to ride with us. It was too big of a loss, felt by everybody. Jim had a heart the size of Texas. He was loved by just about everybody.”

Harris’ widow, Kendra Peek, was presented with a memorial plaque by the Kentucky Brotherhood.

“Jim would have appreciated all of the support. That family aspect is a big part of why he loved being in the fire service and had been his entire adult life,” Peek said. “He was a gentle giant of a guy. He defended his people completely, always stood up for those who needed it, and tried to treat everyone with respect. It’s part of why he was well-liked even among the inmates at the prison. He was also a big cut-up and could always make people laugh.”

Since 2019, the Kentucky Brotherhood has had annual cross-state rides in honor of fallen first responders and has riders present in rides across the nation. For more information visit kentuckybrotherhood.org.

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