Tyler Fire Department Holds 24th Annual Awards Banquet

TYLER — The Tyler Fire Department held its 24th 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.

Firefighter Association Award:

· City Manager Ed Broussard

Chief’s Certificates of Merit were awarded to:

· Lynn Statham – CARE Fund Raffle Organizer
· Doyle Beasley, Hal Walker, Daniel Bailey, Ben Missildine & Randy Smiley (Gander Mountain) – CARE Fund Archery / Bow Shooting Fundraiser
· Ken Langley, Bruce Hill, Brian Phillips and Jay McClung – Engine 4: A-Shift
· John Hopkins, Bob Moon, Laura Mason and Dale Peterson – CISM Team
· Brent Hail – Liaison for Firefighter Combat Challenge
· Stephanie Shirley – Volunteer Coordinator for Firefighter Combat Challenge
· Brandon Davis, Brent Hail, Terry Hawkins, Randy Lee & Jeff Barnett – Over-40 Tyler Combat Challenge Team
· Shari Rickman, Cindy Smoak and Holly Conley – CVB and Combat Challenge
· Larry Crowson – FRESH 15: 5K (1st Place – Over-40 Race)
· David Schlottach – Firehouse Software / Communications Trailer
· Joey Wiggins – Dispatch Liaison / Firehouse Software
· Marty Lawrence – Lean Sigma Program / Performance Excellence Program

Special Recognition:

Greenberg Smoked Turkey, Inc.
East Texas Emergency Medical Service
Brookshire Grocery Company
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Quilter’s Group
Delek Refinery

Individual Awards included:

· Friend of the Department Awards:
o Steve Roosth and Leesa Hedge – Pension Board Members
o Tommi Ellis, Jim White & Peter Mason – Civil Service Commission
o Serena Butcher – City of Tyler Communications / Cooking with Fire Program
o Ray Patel – Firehouse Subs and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

· Staff Support Award:
o Captain Joey Hooton and Apparatus Technician Brad Smith – Fleet Maintenance Division

· Legends Awards:
o Billy T. Cottrell – Hired on January 14, 1958. Retired on January 1, 1996 with 38 years of service to the City of Tyler.
o Billy R. Hearon – Hired on March 21, 1960. Retired on March 30, 1985 with 25 years of service to the City of Tyler.
o C. Allen Wedgeworth – Hired on January 8, 1969. Retired on January 1, 2002 with 33 years of service to the City of Tyler.

· Outstanding District Award – District 1 B-Shift, led by District Chief Tim McCawley

· Leadership Awards:
o Deputy Fire Marshal James Suggs
o Captain Tracy Cheatham
o Captain Aaron Lowry

· Phoenix Award (Citizen’s Life Saving Award):
o Clint Peveto and Oscar Perdoma – Rescued neighbor from burning house
o Kristine Carrasco and Jocelyn Schmidt – Performed CPR on citizen

· Ground Breaking Award:
o Assistant Fire Marshal Laura Mason

· Firefighter of the Year:
o Firefighter Blake Jordan