HUSSER — Former Husser Volunteer Fire Department Chief James Bailey has died, the department announced.

Chief Dale Vernon said Bailey died Tuesday around 4 p.m..

"He's touched a lot of lives," Vernon said. "Mine included."

According to a Facebook post announcing his death, Bailey joined the department as a volunteer in 1988. Bailey would later serve as chief in Husser in the early 2000s before being named president of the Husser Fire Department, a position he held for 10 years.

After his tenure as president, he was elected to serve on the Tangipahoa Parish Council, a position he held from 2016 to 2020.

Bailey also taught agriculture education for 33 years, including 29 years at Loranger High School.

"We want to thank Mr. Bailey for his dedication to the community, his dedication to education, and most importantly his dedicated friendship to all who knew him," the post said.