Forty Tega Cay firefighters and rescue squad members showed up at Wayne Bassett's home in 1993 to scrape and paint the exterior during his final days.

The Tega Cay Historical Society published that account on Oct. 13, drawing from the April 1993 issue of the Tega Tradewinds, the community's newsletter. The original page carried three tributes to Bassett, written by the fire department, the rescue squad and the newsletter's editors. Scott Miller, a contributor to the Historical Society, compiled the archival feature from the original print edition held in the society's Tega Cay History Archive.

Bassett was a charter member of the Tega Cay Fire Department who died in 1993. He devoted more than 17 years to the Tega Cay Rescue Squad, where he served as vice president, according to Teresa Rock's tribute in the April 1993 Tradewinds. Rock described Bassett as a longtime Tega Cay resident whose volunteer work extended well beyond emergency services, listing the Civil Air Patrol, Lions Club and Tega Cay Church.

"He is one person that never looked for praise or recognition," Rock wrote.

Dave Nelson, writing for the fire department in the same issue, called Bassett "one of our original charter members" and noted the department's loss of "his continuous dedication to duty."

The Tradewinds editors described the house-painting as a final tribute organized by members of both organizations. Some of the 40 belonged to both the fire department and the rescue squad. The editors wrote that the gesture meant more to Bassett than "all the cards and flowers his house could hold."

Bassett's wife, Ann Bassett, a police dispatcher at the time, "has been deeply touched and grateful to the folks that make up these fine organizations," the editors wrote.

The Historical Society is now looking for anyone who knew Wayne or Ann Bassett, or who was among the 40 volunteers who picked up a scraper or paintbrush that spring. The group is seeking photos of Bassett in his firefighter or rescue squad gear.

Residents with memories or photos can share them through the Tega Cay History Facebook Group or the society's contact page at TegaCayHistory.com.