Norman "Sam" Elza Langford
Sam Langford, Popular Citizen Dies Suddenly
Old-Time Fire Chief of Lusk and Crawford Dies Sunday Noon; Funeral Held Here Tuesday, Attended By large Number Friends
Norman Langford, better known to his host of friends here as Sam Langford, died suddenly about noon, in his apartment in the Wyoming Theatre building, after suffering an attack only a few minutes previously.
Dr. A. J. Stenner, who has offices in the theatre building, was hastily summoned, and he in turn went to summons Dr. Murphy, at the request of Langford, but when they returned he had passed away.
He had apparently suffered from a stroke, or died of heart failure.
Funeral services were held from the Peet Mortuary Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, with interment in the Lusk Cemetery. Rev. George Jenkins has had charge of the services. The pallbearers were all members of the Lusk Volunteer Fire Department, Lester Peyton, Harry Fernau, Oliver Holcomb, Walter Cowger, Bennie Updike and Glen Erlewine.
Music for the services was furnished by Rev. Jenkins and Louise Crinklaw. The Mortuary Home was well filled with friends who came to pay tribute to a man admired for many fine qualities.
Norman (Sam) Langford came to Lusk more than twenty years ago, and was employed as a plumber, sheet metal worker and clerk in the store. He was employed in like capacity for Hugo Payne in the Payne Implement Co., at the time of his death.
Before coming to Lusk he was employed in a similar capacity in a hardware store at Crawford, and several old-time friends from that city cam here to attend funeral services.
While in Crawford he was for several years chief of the fire department there. Upon arriving at Lusk, he was also given charge of the fire department here, and was an expert fireman, always serving without pay. He voluntarily retired as chief of the local department when John F. Harkin was mayor. Langford had answered every fire call for many years, but one day he was engaged in a plumbing job in a basement on main Street, and the fire siren sounded. Sam was so engaged in his work that he did not hear the alarm. When his brother firemen kidded hi about it, he forthwith went to mayor harkin and resigned, saying, "I always said I would resign when I got too old to hear the fire whistle. That time has now arrived." No amount of persuasion could induce him to change his decision.
Little is known of Mr. Langford's family, his early life or age. A niece, Mrs. Lee Harvey, of Norfolk, Neb. visited him a few weeks ago on her way from Washington State to her home. He has two sisters, one in Seattle, Wash., and another in California; two brothers, one in Hemingford and one in Omaha. None of the relatives attended the funeral services. He was married in early life, but was later divorced.