Libby firefighters honor late volunteer Hugh Swimley

Libby Volunteer firefighters on Saturday honored the late Hugh Swimley, who served as a volunteer firefighter from 1955 to 1980 and died last December at 85.

Firefighters past and present and friends and family gathered at the memorial at Firemans Park to pay tribute to the man many knew as “Hoot.”

Swimley was “very well liked and respected by everyone,” Fire Chief Tom Wood said via email.

Though Swimley was born in Epping, North Dakota and was living in Surprise, Arizona when he died, Wood noted he was raised and schooled in Libby.

According to his obituary, after graduating from Libby High School in 1949 Swimley briefly worked at Libby Transfer before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and serving in the Korean War. After his discharge he went to Montana State University before working for local grocer Bud Adkins. He spent his career in grocery before retiring as manager of Rosauers.

Swimley and his wife Allison raised their two sons in Libby, where Swimley was active in Christ Lutheran Church.