A Tribute to an Extraordinary Soul
Chaplain Fair and the author at College Station.
Remembering one of America's greatest police chaplains and his lifelong mission to "rescue the rescuers." A tribute to Dave Fair by Phillip LeConte
We are all good at something. I am good with a camera—not nearly as good as some, but better than most. My dear friend Dave Fair, however, was a good chaplain. In fact, I suspect he was one of the best there ever was. On January 7, 2023, Dave passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind a beloved family and a profound legacy in his hometown of Brownwood, Texas, and across the nation. What made Dave so extraordinary was his unparalleled ability to step into severe distress and help grieving people find real hope. He perfectly embodied the best of social teaching, surrendering himself to his faith without a drop of self-pity.
Here is what made Dave’s legacy so enduring, and what we can all learn from his life on the front lines of tragedy:
Standing in the Shadows: Dave held a deep, generous belief in the inherent rights and dignity of every human life. This conviction led him to stand in unwavering solidarity with the weak, the suffering, the outcasts, and the misfits. He never judged the road they were on; instead, he brought his faith directly to those living in the shadows of life.
Rescuing the Rescuers: Dave’s deployments read like a timeline of America’s darkest days, including the Luby's Cafeteria mass murders, the Oklahoma City bombing, Ground Zero after 9/11, the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery, and Hurricane Katrina. He knew that working these front lines puts first responders at massive risk for PTSD and depression, noting that the trauma "begins eating you from the inside out". His mission was always clear: get to the scene, rescue the rescuers, and ensure that those who do the grueling work of recovery are able to recover, too.
A Burden Shared: Doing this work comes at a steep price, and Dave accumulated the psychological scars common to crisis chaplains. It was a heavy burden shared deeply by his wife of 47 years, Karen, whom he lovingly called the "wind beneath his wings". With every disaster he deployed to, Karen carried the quiet fear that he might not come back, sacrificing her own peace of mind so he could serve others.
In Summary Dave Fair’s life was a masterclass in living generously, honestly, kindly, and faithfully. He called forth our better selves to dispense comfort and strive for justice. Even as his agonizing battle with cancer wore on, Dave told us he felt no fear—only extreme gratitude for his accomplishments, his wonderful family, and his loving God.
Keep Shining Your Light The work of a caregiver or chaplain can often feel overwhelmingly heavy, but your presence has a massive impact. As Dave once reminded us, "How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world". Remember his beautiful, enduring promise: "Grief and tragedy and hatred are only for a time. Goodness, remembrance and love have no end". May we all strive to carry that light forward into the dark places that need it most.