Friends call cab driver who died in fire 'nice guy'

On his day off from driving a cab for Kelley Transportation, Thomas G. Tennant would often drive down to New Madrid, Mo., to see his mother who lives in a nursing home.

Tennant's co-workers believe that's probably what he did on his day off Wednesday. Later that evening, Tennant, 54, was killed in a fire that started in the bedroom of his apartment at 604 Boxwood Drive. Coroner John Clifton identified Tennant Thursday following an autopsy.

Kim Kelley, co-owner of Kelley Transportation, said that Tennant had worked there as a cab driver for 17 years.

"Tom was a kind, quiet man," she said. "He was a hard worker, a dedicated employee, a good all-around employee, one you could count on. He was a nice guy."

Dispatcher Jeff Sides said there was one incident from a couple of years ago that he will always remember about Tennant. One of the other dispatchers was at his radio laughing. Sides said he asked what was so funny. Apparently Tennant had left the two-way radio switch on in his cab.

"All of a sudden I heard somebody belting out 'Oh, what a beautiful morning,'" Sides said. "He was singing along with the radio. We busted up laughing over that."

"Everybody around here thought the world of him. He was a really good person."

Sides said that Tennant was not married and did not have children. He said Tennant spoke little of his family, except to say that on his day off he would visit his mother.

Kelley and Sides both learned of Tennant's death Wednesday night soon after firefighters recovered his body from the apartment.

"It's been pretty quiet today," Kelley said. "Someone you expect to see every day and he's not there anymore -- it's a shock."

"I'm going to miss him," Sides said.

Clifton said the autopsy done Thursday morning showed that no foul play was involved in Tennant's death.

Fire department officials said Thursday that it could not be determined if the smoke detector in Tennant's apartment was working when the fire broke out.