FERRIDAY — Herman Ray Smith, who served the Town of Ferriday for more than 45 years, will be remembered as a great fireman.

Smith died Tuesday at age 74.

Mayor Gene Allen said Smith was one of the best chiefs he ever had. Smith put in approximately 25 years as Ferriday’s fire chief.

“He was a fine man, a super guy,” Allen said. “I think he was one of the finest fireman Ferriday ever had — the community is going to miss him.”

Not only was Smith a good firefighter, but he was also excellent as an administrator, Allen said.

“He was the best record keeper the town ever had,” Allen said. “He kept up with everything, and he did it well. I really missed him when he retired.”

When Glen McGlothin became mayor in 1989, Smith was the chief.

“He worked for me for 16 years,” McGlothin said. “Some of that was as assistant chief, but that was only because he was the younger man compared to Joe (Sontoyo).”

McGlothin said Smith was a dedicated public servant.

“He loved that job, and you have to love that kind of stuff because it is a thankless job,” McGlothin said. “They are not just standing around waiting for a fire like some people think. They are always having to do something.

“I can’t tell you how many hours he stayed up clearing trees when storms came through. He also spent countless hours directing traffic. And you know in Ferriday he spent more time flushing out and cleaning those water lines than they had to do in any other town.”

His family, including wife Ruth Cain Smith, has also been equally dedicated to the town, Allen said.

“I always made this joke because when I hired Smith as the fire chief, I was getting three hires for one contract,” Allen said. “When I hired him as chief, his daughter and wife came up and helped him.”

Services for Smith will be at 2 p.m. today at Sycamore Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Cullumn and the Rev. Ron Ferrington officiating.

Burial will be at South Central Cemetery in Wisner, La., under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from noon until service time today at the church.