The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department awarded Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale the "Highest Attendance Award" at the annual city firemen’s banquet, held Friday night at the Smithville First United Methodist Christian Fellowship Center.
Hale received the honor from Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker, who said the deputy chief had attended 154 out of 175 calls in 2015, and participated in more hours of training than any other city firefighter last year at 136.
"We only have about 25 members in our department, so it's hard to pick a firefighter of the year from these guys, because just about all of them are firefighters of the year," Parker said. "The officers and firefighters each do a fantastic job all year long so it makes it really tough to pick one. The biggest thing we do is give a Highest Attendance Award, which honors the person who puts in the extra commitment and dedication to get up at two o'clock in the morning and come to the calls."
The Chief said the runners-up were Lieutenant John Poss with 135 calls, Lieutenant Donnie Cantrell with 134, Lieutenant Danny Poss with 132, and Randall Hunt with 130. Gary Johnson was also honored for having the most training hours among non-officers of the department. Johnson participated in 50 hours of training in 2015.
City firefighters recognized for their years of service were:
• Robin Summers: Rookie
• Kim Johnson: Rookie
• C.J. Tramel: 1 year
• Dalton Roberts: 1 year
• Cody Fults: 1 year
• Bradley Johnson: 1 year
• Shawn Jacobs: 2 years
• Kevin Adcock: 5 years (second tenure with department 16 years total)
• Cory Killian: 4 years
• Glen Lattimore: 7 years
• Stephanie Wright: 9 years
• Randall Hunt: 10 years
• Gary Johnson: 10 years
• Wallace Caldwell (Chaplain): 11 years
• Wink Brown: 17 years
• Greg Bess (Photographer): 20 years
• John Poss (Lieutenant): 24 years
• Jeff Wright (Captain): 29 years
• Hoyte Hale (Deputy Chief): 30 years
• Donnie Cantrell (Lieutenant): 35 years
• Danny Poss (Lieutenant): 35 years
• Charles Parker (Chief): 35 years.
