The Butch Gudat Fund is a charitable foundation for assisting firefighters in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford, Illinois counties, their families and their communities. The fund provides $1500 college scholarships to qualifying children and grandchildren of career and volunteer firefighters in the Tri-County area. It also provides grants to Tri-County fire departments to assist with purchase of educational materials, installation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and other community fire prevention efforts. Scholarships and grants are awarded annually each January.

The fund commemorates the dedication and bravery of Peoria Fire Captain Butch Gudat who died fighting an apartment fire complex on Main Street on January 23, 1983. Captain Gudat sustained fatal head injuries when a brick wall in the burning building collapsed. He served with the department for sixteen years. No Peoria firefighters have given their lives in the line of duty since.

Captain Gudat is survived by his son, Mike Gudat, of Peoria and his daughter, Michele Lemek, of Carlock, Illinois. The family established the Butch Gudat Fund and intends to award the first scholarships and grants in January of 2008, honoring the 25th anniversary of Captain Gudat's death.

The fund is being managed by the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. The Community Foundation provides professional investment services for charitable funds and manages both the scholarship/grant award process and 501(c)(3) nonprofit reporting requirements. For more information or to make a donation, contact Mike Gudat at 309-696-3845 or mike AT butchgudatfund.org.

 

  

 

VERNON  A. "BUTCH" GUDAT

Captain E-10

June 27, 1944  -  January 23, 1983

      Vernon A. "BUTCH" Gudat     was born on June 27, 1944 and entered the Fire Service on June 19, 1967.  At age 38, Captain "BUTCH" Gudat was killed by a collapsing brick wall while fighting an apartment fire at 717-719 Main Street on January 23, 1983.

On January 22, 1983, the Peoria Fire Department received Box Alarm 25. Callers reported a lot of smoke in the area of Main and Perry Streets. Upon arrival the firefighters encountered a large volume of fire in the brick structure at 717-719 Main Street and extra alarms were immediately sounded.

Captain Gudat's machine, Engine 10, set up in the rear of the building along with  Truck 3.  The crew of Truck 3 was set-up in the aerial platform over Captain Gudat's position. On the ground, Captain Gudat called to Firefighter Mike Morrow to assist him in advancing a hose line to an exposed wall. Suddenly the rear wall started to fall outward. The men on the platform of Truck 3 frantically screamed at Gudat and Morrow to run. Captain Gudat had just enough time to guide Firefighter Morrow under a wall opening, and ran toward another opening when the wall caught him. Firefighters and Police hurried to their aid and dug them out from under the burning bricks and debris. A window section of the wall fell around Firefighter Morrow, probably saving his life. He suffered  a broken collar bone, fractured left ankle and many lacerations and bruises. Captain Gudat had suffered massive head injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:50 a.m. at Methodist Medical Center on January 23, 1983. The fire was a 4-11 alarm with a large dollar loss. Investigators determined arson as the cause, and the case remains open.

Captain Gudat had spent most of his 16 years serving in the high-risk valley district. He was a firefighter's firefighter. Fire crews always felt a little more secure at a fire with Butch there. They knew he would be where the work was and make a rescue without regard for his own safety.

Vernon A. "BUTCH" Gudat was born June 27, 1944, to Theodore and Clara Closen Gudat. At the time of his death, he was survived by his parents of Peoria, one son, Michael Ray Gudat, of Hanna City, one daughter, Michele Rene Gudat, of Hanna City, one sister, Patricia Shernak, of Peoria. He resided at 211 W. Republic Street in Peoria. He had worked for the Peoria Fire Department for almost 16 years. Captain Gudat served several terms as an officer of the Peoria Firefighters Club, and two years as chairman of the Firemen's Ball which raised money for the Toys for Tots program.

Funeral services were held on January 26, 1983, at Davidson-Fulton Woodland Chapel. The Reverend W.F. Neumann officiated. There was a formal Fire Department ceremony with firefighters from around the nation in attendance. Engine 10 was draped in black and carried the casket while leading the procession through the city streets. Citizens stopped and stood in respect at each block along the 10-mile route.

Internment:   Lutheran Cemetery - Peoria, ILL  (Lot 285, Block24)

As a brother Firefighter wrote:

" The Sorrow Of His Death Is Overcome By Knowing,

It Was Far Better That He Spent Part Of His Life With Us, Than Not "

                                   TCJ

 

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