Family and friends gathered today in Pike County to pay their respects to former State Trooper Rick Conn.

Conn retired five years ago, after a 25 year career with Prestonsburg Police and Kentucky State Police.

Those who knew him said he had many titles, husband, father, friend and hero.

“It's an opportunity for us to pay respects to a great trooper a great man, father just a great friend,” said Trooper Shaun Little.

He was labeled as a hero 8 years ago when he rescued a woman and her 3 year old daughter from their burning home after a pipeline explosion.

Both Jeannie Newsome and her daughter came to the funeral to say thank you.

“He was a hero to all of us. Just god bless him that he was there that day, for all the families not just for ours but for all of them,” said Newsome.

“Rick showed that's what we do is we go above and beyond. We sacrifice self for others and that's what rick did that's what we all strive to do as troopers,” said Little.

Newsome said that she'll never forget that day, and the sacrifice that he made.

“Rick was burned terribly, and he didn't worry about that he went back to help the neighbors, to help us. That's what I'll remember just how brave, truly brave he was, said Newsome.

“The way that he lived his life describes who rick was and [it was] as a true hero,” said Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Gannon.

A was man his friends said was real life hero in every way.