Rick McCormick, the La Vergne Fire Chief, passed away. He was 49-years old.

La Vergne City spokeswoman Anne Smith says McCormick was at St. Thomas Rutherford overnight after undergoing a knee replacement surgery on Thursday, August 16th. He passed away around midnight due to an unknown complication.

Word quickly spread of his passing Thursday night. Rutherford County EMS Special Operations posted on Facebook: "It is with great sadness today that we learn of the passing of The City of LaVergne Fire Chief Rick McCormick. We ask that everyone keep the McCormick family and the LaVergne Fire Dept in their prayers."

The chief served on the City of La Vergne's fire department since May, 1987 (31 years). He was sworn in as the fire chief in 2013, when the city purchased the private fire department. Before that, he achieved many rank promotions within the department and served as the assistant chief of the La Vergne Fire Department, Inc. He also served as the Emergency Services Coordinator for the city prior to becoming Chief.

Mayor Dennis Waldron said, "Ricky was a passionate person who loved his city and his fire department. That love was equally returned by everyone in La Vergne and he is going to be deeply missed."

The McCormick family is still dealing with the loss of their son Brandon, who died in April after a motorcycle accident.

No funeral arrangements have been made at this time.

The family is asking for privacy as they begin to process this loss and grieve.