Tyler Fire Department Holds 23rd Annual Awards Banquet

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department has handed its Firefighter of the Year Award to Matt Ford (pictured). That honor was just one of many presented as the department held its 23rd Annual Awards Banquet Saturday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. During the ceremony, firefighters, along with retired firefighters and civilians, were honored for their actions and service to the City of Tyler.

Here’s a complete rundown of awards given out:

Firefighter Association Award:
� Mayor Barbara Bass
� Holly Short, Ganache

Chief�s Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to:
� Loretta Kuhn and Cheryl Coffee � Regional Advisory Council
� Jim Seaton � Smith County Fire Marshal�s Office
� Matt and Tori Jenkins � Bras for the Cause
� Larry Crowson � Tyler Firefighter and Brookshire�s FRESH 15 Bicycle Team
� Kelly and Stephanie Shirley � Combat Challenge volunteers
� Serena Butcher � City of Tyler: Cooking with Fire – Production
� Stephen Self � City of Tyler: Cooking with Fire – Cameraman

Chief�s Certificates of Merit were awarded to:
� David Hickey and Russell Jowell � Won recent PD Shooting Competition
� Laura Mason � Work on CISM team
� James Suggs � Work on criminal investigations in the Fire Marshal�s Office
� Terry Hawkins, Brandon Davis, Brent Hail, Jeff Barnett and Randy Lee � Combat Challenge (Over 40) Team: Cotton Bowl Invitational / Qualified for the World Combat Challenge in Las Vegas, NV
� Brent Hail � Coordination of bringing the National Firefighter Combat Challenge to Tyler
� James Seaton, Mark Baker, Zach Sutton and Tim McCawley � Representation of TFD at recent funeral for retired Dallas Firefighter.
� TFD Soccer Team � Gold Medal / Division 3 (4th year in a row to win Gold): Tony Gumber, Jason Beasley, Greg Crenshaw, Mason Edney, Eric Rozell, Bruce Hill, Logan Luttrell, Chris Mahler, Terence Thedford, Steven Wieczor, Shawn Wilson and Lucas Terry
� Marjorie Vallejo � Staff Support
� Marty Lawrence � Work on Lean Sigma Projects / Department Business Plan
� Paul Findley � Acceptance to National Fire Academy � EFO Program

Special Recognition:
Greenberg Smoked Turkey, Inc.
East Texas Emergency Medical Service
Brookshire Grocery Company
Our Saviour�s Lutheran Church Quilter�s Group
Gary Landers, past City Attorney

Individual Awards included:

� Friend of the Department Awards:
o James Gregory and Louis LaBella � Delek Refinery
o Monty and Jackie Ward � Campbell�s Towing

� Community Service Recognition Awards:
o Matt Brown � American Red Cross
o Ralph Caraway and Charles Williams � St. Louis Baptist Church

� Staff Support Award:
o Margaret Carrico

� Legends Awards:
o Howard H. Kennedy, Jr. � Hired on November 17, 1969. Retired on January 1, 2005 with over 35 years of service to the City of Tyler.
o Jerry W. Scott � Hired on May 16, 1968. Retired on December 31, 2003 with over 35 years of service to the City of Tyler.
o John E. Langston � Hired on October 15, 1966. Retired on December 31, 1986 with over 20 years of service to the City of Tyler.

� Outstanding District Award � District 2 C-Shift, led by District Chief Mike Frost

� Leadership Awards:
o Captain Kenneth Langley
o Captain Ross Hamilton
o Captain Morgan Herron

� Phoenix Award (Citizen�s Life Saving Award):
o Cadarius Wheeler � John Tyler High School student

� Life Saving Award:
o Firefighter Kenny Vent

� Firefighter of the Year:
o Firefighter Matt Ford