Lexie Engleman was one of the city’s first female firefighters, and now her name is on the training room at Station No. 1.
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) recently dedicated the training room to Engleman, who served the department nearly 30 years until she retired as a captain at age 60 in December 2010, according to a news release. Family, friends, other LDCFM retirees and current staff members joined Engleman to celebrate the recognition.
A plaque with Engleman’s portrait will hang in the room. The plaque says that when Engleman joined the Lawrence Fire Department in June 1981, she became one of the first female firefighters in the city’s history.
“Prior to joining the fire service she had enjoyed a career in education, coaching, and teaching physical education in Abilene and Linwood, teaching classes at the University of Kansas, and working towards a master’s degree in education,” the plaque continues.
“LDCFM is proud to have the opportunity to recognize Captain Engleman’s groundbreaking accomplishments,” the release stated.
Fire Station No. 1 is downtown at 746 Kentucky St.
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