The DeKalb County Fire Department’s Annual Awards Banquet was held Saturday, Jan. 20, at the DeKalb County Complex Auditorium. The evening began with a delicious meal and some awesome entertainment from ventriloquist David Turner and Friends. Approximately 150 people were in attendance at the Awards Banquet, including firefighters, their families, local and state officials, and community partners. County Fire Chief Donny Green presided over the evening’s program.
Chief Green highlighted some of the department’s major achievements in 2017 that have resulted in huge milestones.
In August, the department was awarded a $49,815 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award that was used to purchase portable generators, automatic external defibrillators (AED’s), and water supply equipment.
Also in August, for the ninth consecutive year, DeKalb County Fire Department was recognized as one of Tennessee’s elite fire departments for 2017 outstanding training achievement. Of the 732 fire departments in Tennessee, both volunteer and paid, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Dept. ranked 17th for 2016-17 training achievement by the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. Considering the ranking among departments that operate with 100 percent volunteer staff in the state, the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department ranked second.
Award presentations were also part of the program agenda for volunteer firefighters who excelled in various areas during 2017.
“Multiple nominations were received in each category and we have many of our members excelling in their service and commitment and we are extremely proud of every member of our department for their personal sacrifice. It takes a very dedicated individual to step up to the task and demands of being a volunteer firefighter in this department. We feel it’s important to recognize and reward those who have achieved excellence so that others can clearly see our department’s mission in action. All nominations were submitted to members of our 2017 Citizens’ Fire Academy who served as the awards selection panel, and we are extremely grateful that they have been willing to do this,” said Chief Green.
As such, the following awards were presented during the banquet:
Captain Michael Lawrence presented the 2017 Wilson Bank & Trust Firefighter of the Year Award to Matt Adcock, Station Commander of the Belk Station.
Captain Lawrence said Matt Adcock has excelled in all considerations used to evaluate the worthiness of earning this award. “Matt was nominated this year and the evaluation of his nomination considered his fire call response, training attendance, and community service participation. The fire calls and training attendance stand for themselves."
Captain Brian Williams was named the 2017 Wilson Bank & Trust Officer of the Year. Chief Donny Green presented the award and highlighted Captain Williams’ achievements in training attendance, incident response, and community service.
Steve Repasy, station commander of the Johnsons Chapel Station, and Blake Cantrell both were selected by the awards panel to receive the Department’s 2017 “Git R Done” Award. Captain Jay Cantrell presented this award and said this award is aimed at recognizing members who demonstrate exceptional sacrifices going above and beyond responding to calls and attending training.
The “Rookie of the Year” award went to Firefighter Luke Green of the Main Station.
Lieutenants Dusty Johnson and Jeremy Neal recognized and presented the following four members with pins for length of service awards:
10 years of service:
Donnie Johnson,
Main Station
Shawn Puckett,
Midway Station
20 years of service:
Ronald Merriman,
Keltonburg Station
40 years of service:
Hugh Washer,
Cookeville Hwy. Station
Lieutenant Andy Pack and Assistant Chief Anthony Boyd recognized members with training attendance awards. Members with 100 percent training attendance were Matt Adcock, Justin Bass, Asst. Chief Anthony Boyd, Bill Brown, Chief Donny Green, Steven Lawrence, Lt. Andy Pack, Calvin Tramel, and Captain Brian Williams. Members with 75 percent training attendance were: Capt. Jay Cantrell, Clint Cope, Kyle Devers, Donnie Johnson, Lt. Dusty Johnson, Jerry Wayne Johnson, Chris Mulford, Lt. Jeremy Neal, Shawn Puckett, Steve Repasy, and Robert Sartin.
Honorary Lifetime Member Jeff Williams presented the Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards. Each year, the department’s Executive Committee accepts and reviews applications for Honorary Lifetime Memberships. This is a very distinguished award and recipients are chosen on strict merits of their service and contributions to the department. Two awards were presented for 2017 to Calvin Trammel and Lt. Dusty Johnson.
Chief Green recognized partners who have provided special support to the department during the year.
“This year, we were honored to have Wilson Bank & Trust to sponsor our Firefighter of the Year Award and our Officer of the Year Award. We also want to express our appreciation to the Smithville and Alexandria fire departments and Putnam Co. Fire Department for graciously volunteering to take our emergency calls so our members can enjoy the banquet today,” said Chief Green.
“Our department is recognized widely for our commitment and performance and I will credit that to the willingness of our volunteers to understand their commitment on a professional level, the support of our community partners, and the support of our County Mayor and County Commission,” said Chief Green.
For more on the banquet, see the story on smithvillereview.com.
