For Beckham County residents, the memories of the late Colter Vaught’s good deeds for his community remain a source of inspiration.
After Colter was shot and killed outside of his place of work in January of 2024, his absence in the western Oklahoma volunteer fire fighting community has been deeply felt.
“Oh, you can’t replace a Colter Vaught,” said Elk City Fire Department Chief Kyle Chervenka. “Although he was never technically on my crew, we all worked side by side on countless fires. He never missed a call and his bravery was always on full display even among others acting bravely.”
As the area firemen now face their second fire season without Colter, who they describe frequently as a gentle giant, the group teamed up with the Oklahoma Blood Institute to conduct a blood drive in Colter’s honor.
They named it “Love like Colter.”
“That kinda says it all,” Chervenka added. “Colter loved big and we devoted his life to saving lives out here. It seemed like a good way to honor him while doing what he would want us to do — protect our neighbors, families, and friends.”
The event was held on Friday, April 12.
Along with the Beckham County Fire Association, Thru Tubing Solutions, or TTS, provided food for the blood drive.
The drive collected enough blood to save 125 Oklahomans in need of blood.
The group plans to make this an annual event.
