Fire Fighter of the Year Award

Purpose of Award: Outstanding Citizenship and Exemplary Job Achievement Award Sponsor: Maryland State Firemen’s Association   Award Administered By: Maryland State Firemen’s Association Firefighter of the Year Committee       Background:   The Maryland State Firemen’s Association (MSFA) established the Firefighter of the Year Award in 1978, to be presented at the Annual Convention and Conference each year from nominations received from the member department or individuals.  Qualified nominations will be judged by the Firefighter of the Year Committee appointed by the President of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association.               The committee solicits your support in this fine program and asks that you select someone in your department or from a member department of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association for the award.       Award Rules: The rules and guidelines for the Firefighter of the Year Program are as follows:     Nominee must be from a member department of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. Any active member of a department of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association may submit the name of a nominee for the award. Nominations must be submitted on an individual basis only on official letterhead or department stationary with the official MSFA Firefighter of the Year Nomination Form attached.  Form must be signed with title of person submitting the nomination.  A photograph of the nominee shall be submitted with the form. Nomination must be submitted to the Chairman of the Firefighter of the Year Committee no later than May 1st of each year.   Any late entries will not be considered.  The mailing address for the entries is: John O. Gatton, Sr., Chairman, MSFA Firefighter of the Year Committee 24429 Mervell Dean Road Hollywood, MD 20636   Guidelines for selection of nominee: Outstanding citizenship, i.e., activities by a firefighter to better his/her department and community at large, etc. Exemplary job achievement, i.e., lecturing at school on fire safety, setting up a program of fire inspections, fund raising, etc.     This award will be for calendar year only.       NOTE:            This award will not be judged on acts of heroism.  All heroism nominations should be directed to the Colburn Trophy Award.     Awarding of the Firefighter of the Year Plaque and Certificates: Award to be made at the MSFA Annual Convention and Conference. Winner to receive large plaque annually Winner receives the Firefighter of the Year Medal and Ribbon Bar, which was approved by the Executive Committee in 2002.  The ribbon is red and white and the gold medal is inscribed as Firefighter of the Year, with the MSFA Seal in the center. Awarding of plaque and medal to be made by the President of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. Certificates will be presented or mailed to all nominees. Recipients name will be placed on a large plaque in the Volunteer Firefighter’s Room, Adult Education Center, University of Maryland, College Park.  Plaque donated by the Laytonsville District Volunteer Fire Department of Montgomery County in memory of Chief Spencer J. H. Brown, Sr., Past President of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. Previous Recipients: Year   Name Department - County County 1978   Herman E. Rhue Hurlock VFC Dorchester 1979   Richard A. Ayers Community FC, Rising Sun Cecil 1980   James J. Snyder Laytonsville District VFD Baltimore 1981   Eugene L. Worthington Level VFC Harford 1981   Joseph G. Burris Church Hill Queen Anne's 1982   Tony Sterling Salisbury VFD #1 Wicomico 1983   Thomas Y. Miller Level VFC Harford 1984   Harry A. Pafel, Jr. Fallston VF&AC Harford 1985   Ted F. Jackson Church Hill Queen Anne's 1986   Diane May Luke VFC Allegany 1987   Rhonda J. Thomas  Level VFC Harford 1988   David C. Leftwich Delta-Cardiff VFC Harford 1989   William J. Dousa, Jr. Joppa-Magnolia VFC Harford 1990   L. Jason Baer Goodwill FC, Maugansville Washington 1991   Francis T. Mowbray, Jr. Barton Hose Allegany 1992   Michael E. Tarquini Level VFC Harford 1993   James Jarboe Takoma Park VFD Montgomery 1994   Steven W. Leatherman Middletown VFC Frederick 1995   Barbara A. Knippenburg Midland VFC Allegany 1996   James “Deacon” Dick Midland VFC Allegany 1997   Francis D. Jester Church Hill VFC Queen Anne's 1998   Joseph Wayne Hardesty Prince Frederick VFD Calvert 1999   Joseph Wayne Hardesty       Prince Frederick VFD Calvert 2000   Joseph Della-Camera Prince Frederick VFD Calvert 2001   Jim Lyons Joppa Magnolia Harford 2002   Jeff Williams Indian Head Charles 2003   James E. McClelland Capital Heights Prince George's 2004   Daniel J. Stevens Waldorf Charles 2005   William Hill, Jr. Hollywood St. Mary's 2006   Aimee Cenate Mechanicsville VFD St. Mary's 2007   Derrick E. Lloyd Joppa Magnolia Harford