Stephen Pooley

Stephen Wayne Pooley was born in Alaska on December 3, 1960 to Wade Albert Pooley, SSGT, USAF (retired) and his wife Dorene. A few years later, they moved into a house located at 5829 Penny Avenue, in a small neighborhood located just southeast of Eastgate Shopping Center. Stephen attended Scenic Heights Elementary, Ferry Pass Middle, and Beggs Vocational Schools. During his formative years, he was often seen visiting the Pensacola Fire Station located at 9th Avenue and McAlister Street. When he was fifteen years old, his father died.

Late on Christmas Eve night 1978, Stephen smelled smoke and saw through a small patch of woods the high flames that were rolling out of the home of the family of Clyde E Lewis, Jr, located at 5814 Lois Avenue. Having been a lifelong best friend of the Lewis family and fearing for their safety, he quickly burst into action. He ran through the woods, jumped their fence, kicked-in the front door of the home that was completely engulfed in flames, and ran through the smoke-filled, ten-room house thinking his friends were asleep and possibly burning to death. When he saw no one inside, he exited to see the fire department arriving. By the time the flames were extinguished, the house was a total loss.

All of this took place when many other families would be opening their Christmas presents. The Lewis family had been out celebrating the holiday, and the next day they relocated to the nearby town of Milton. Within eight months Stephen's mother remarried, his family disbanded and his childhood home was abandoned by all family members. Stephen Pooley was only eighteen years old, and his act of extreme bravery and heroism was never formally recognized by any authorities.