It was June Graybill Jr. who, in 1952, helped form the Troutville Volunteer Fire Department and rescue squad, the same two departments that were among those Wednesday attempting to save his son's life.

Richard Graybill, 67, of Troutville died on the way to the hospital after a fire at his apartment in the 100 block of Westview Road, according to Botetourt County Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle. Graybill's 8-year-old Irish setter, Buddy, was also killed.

Crews were called to the duplex about 9:30 p.m. after a neighbor spotted smoke coming from the attic, Sprinkle said. Neighbors were not able to open the front door, said Graybill's daughter, Belinda Edwards, of Fincastle.

Though the Roanoke medical examiner had not released a cause of death as of Thursday evening, Edwards said she believes her father died of smoke inhalation.

Graybill was a native of Troutville; his late father was the town's first mayor.

Richard Graybill recently retired from an accounting job at Norfolk Southern Corp. after more than three decades, Edwards said. He helped start Botetourt's original Jaycees organization more than 40 years ago, though the group is no longer active in the county.

An avid traveler, Graybill was never among strangers.

"He was a people person," Edwards said. "He would sit around in restaurants and strike up conversations with perfect strangers."

Sprinkle could not immediately provide a damage estimate, but said the fire started in a utility closet. A neighbor in an adjacent duplex was displaced because of smoke damage, but she was staying with friends.