Former Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Tom Emberton died on Thursday during a house fire.
Emberton reportedly rescued his wife and lost his life attempting to rescue their home.
JUST IN: Edmonton Mayor Doug Smith says Tom Emberton heroically made certain his wife Julia made it to safety but lost his life during his effort to save their home. https://t.co/Y33nmjkHLD
— WBKO News (@wbkotv) October 20, 2022
A hero
“He heroically rescued his wife and got her to safety. Then he went back in to save his home and lost his life,” said Edmonton Mayor, Doug Smith.
“Tom was just the greatest guy in the world to be around. He was infectious to everybody,” Smith said. “He had a way about him that was really special,” he added.
Condolences are pouring in from various political leaders in the Commonwealth. https://t.co/9qBSJW0xY4
— WAVE (@wave3news) October 20, 2022
His impact
“Elaine and I are heartbroken to learn of the tragic passing of our good friend Judge Tom Emberton. Tom gave me one of my earliest experiences in the rough and tumble reality of political campaigning, hiring me to work on his 1971 gubernatorial campaign,” Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell wrote.
“He taught me valuable lessons on public service and running as a statewide Republican in Kentucky. Tom advocated for conservative values across our state and played a key role in organizing Kentucky Republicans at every level, paving the way for me and so many other conservatives to follow in his footsteps,” he added.
Tom Emberton, once a Republican candidate for Kentucky governor and later chief judge of the state Court of Appeals, died Thursday in a house fire. https://t.co/61B6LrqCy8
— Enquirer (@Enquirer) October 21, 2022
Emberton also served in the Air Force and was an attorney for Metcalfe County.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. An investigation is underway.
Emberton’s loss hits heavy in his home state as many mourn the loss of a longtime leader in Kentucky.