But what Matt Bradley did was as heartfelt and an expression of love that is likely something he’ll remember the rest of his life in a family that is known for longevity.

His workaday job is driving Engine 4 for the Hoover Fire Department which is housed in the Thomas E. Bradley Fire Station No. 4 in the department his father took over as its first full-time Fire Chief in 1976. Tom was greeted by an enthusiastic group of volunteer and part-time firefighters and turned it into one of the most respected fire departments in Alabama before retiring in 2009 at age 80.

Matt was behind the wheel of Engine 4 in the early afternoon of Dec. 10 but he wasn’t running a call. He was likely making the most privileged drive behind the wheel of a fire engine he’ll make in his career. He drove Engine 4 from Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover to Jefferson Memorial cemetery about four miles away. 

In the back was a flag-draped casket of his father, a man who spent two-thirds of his life on this earth in the fire service, fittingly carried to his reward on a fire truck. Driven by his youngest child.

More than 20 fire trucks and emergency vehicles from departments from both Jefferson and Shelby counties joined in the procession. (Click here to see the video and hear the last call for Thomas E. Bradley over the service radios of the Hoover fire and police departments.)

“Really gonna miss my best friend/mentor,” Matt said in a social media post. “Went to call him earlier and realized that will never happen again. Never pass up a chance to talk with those you love. It will be over before you know it.”

I’m a little close to this great story. Tom Bradley was my Uncle Tom even though he was my second cousin in reality. We always called him Uncle Tom. And he agitated the crap out of me as a child. His agitation skills were legendary. 

He was at our house for a few days back in the 1960s – I don’t know why and if I was supposed to know somebody would have told me. It just so happened one of those days was the first time I would ever attend school, back then in first grade.

Before I could get out the door, he began earnestly making fun of “school child Mullen, school child Mullen.” To the point I was crying and said “I ain’t going” as he laughed hysterically. I went.

Another time, he was at our house on Christmas and we had gotten a ping pong table. He went flying to make a shot and knocked over the Christmas tree. My mother said words that day I rarely ever heard her say.

A rare man, a funny man, a wise man and a man who helped many people in so many ways with the admonishment “tell ‘em it came from the church.”

And he was toted (he loved that word) to his reward by his youngest child. Driving a fire truck. Congrats on a life well-lived. 

And, Matt, great job, buddy.