"Charleston 9" firefighter among Hall of Fame inductees

SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) - He will always be known as part of the "Charleston 9," but Louis Mulkey's widow says he was best known as "coach."

"The best way to describe Louis is passionate," says Lauren Mulkey. "No matter what he did, he did it with a passion. He did it with all of his heart."

Mulkey was one of seven people inducted into the Summerville High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was a basketball coach for years at Summerville High School. The ceremony happened during halftime at Friday night's Green Wave football game.

"He just loved dealing with the sports program at Summerville High School, and the students loved him back," says DD2 superintendent Joseph Pye.

Mulkey lost his life while battling a blaze at the former Sofa Super Store in West Ashley. He was one of nine firefighters killed.

"It was just a tragic ending to his life, but, again, it ended his physical life, but not the emotional and the thoughts and memories he had," says Pye.

Mulkey's widow says the evening was bitter sweet. She says it's incredible to see him being honored for what he loved to do.

"It's just a celebration of his legacy and the love he had for his boys here at the school and coaching."

The other inductees were Perry Cuda, Robert Sinteff, Jan Waring Woods, Michael Wills, Will Jeter, and Burt Bazzle.