On
February 23, 2008 the Association held their 102nd Anniversary and Awards Banquet.
The following awards were presented at that time.
THEODORE R. EPRIGHT MEMORIAL VALOR AWARD
This Award is given for service rendered above and beyond the call of duty
at risk to life.
The 2008 recipients are members of the Green Ridge Fire
Company #1 of Aston Township. Members being recognized are David Evans,
Jr., Jim Ayers, Jr., Jim Ayers, Sr., Jim Carr III, Brian Harris, Sr.,
Jack McPartland, Andrew Plotts, and Thomas Morgan, Jr.
On
August 11, 2007 the Green Ridge Fire Company was dispatched to 11 Park Vallei Lane, Parkside Borough,
Pennsylvania to assist the Parkside Fire Company on a dwelling fire at
approximately 0200 hours. Upon arrival of Rescue 63 on location,
Parkside Deputy Chief John Albany, Jr. reported a collapse of the fire building with
firefighters trapped. Rescue 63 was initially assigned to ladder the
dwelling and vent the roof. Those orders were quickly changed to
a search and rescue assignment for the trapped firefighters. The
crew went to work in extreme fire and
smoke conditions with a severe collapse potential to searching for the
trapped firefighters. Without any thought of their own danger they entered the fully
involved building in an attempt to locate and subsequently aide
in the rescue of the two trapped firefighters.
This award is name after the late Pio Zappasodi, a long
time member of the Delaware County Firemen's Association who represented
the 8th District on the Executive Board. This award is presented yearly
by Congressman Weldon, to a person who has helped the Fire Service in
Delaware County
The 2008 recipient is
Robert W. Denney, Sr. of the Felton Hose & Chemical
Company.
Bob is a Life Member of the Felton
Hose & Chemical Company, having served as Fire Chief and President. He also
served as Fire Marshal in Chester Township for many years. Bob recently retired
as the paid Fire Chief of the Boeing Fire Department in December 2007.
He is a Life Member of the Delaware
County Firemen's Association where he has held the offices of 1st District
Assistant Fire Marshal, 1st District Director, 2nd Vice President,
President, and Chairman of the Executive Board. Currently he serves as Deputy Chief Fire
Marshal.
Bob is also active with the Delaware Valley Fire Chief's Association
where he has served as Pennsylvania Director, Vice President, and
President in 2006.
The Business of the Year Award is presented annually to a
business or corporation, in Delaware County that has contributed to the
benefit, welfare or improvement of the Fire Service in an outstanding
manner.
The 2008 recipient is the
Cavanagh Family Funeral Home.
The
Sharon Hill Fire Company nominated the business for their support and services that were provided
during the funeral of Sharon Hill Firefighter Michael Reagan.
The Andrew Hogan Memorial Fire
Safety Education Award, has been established to recognize an
organization or an individual, who has developed or contributed to a
new or extraordinary program to teach Fire Safety Education to the
general public in the County of Delaware.
The 2008 recipient is the Folcroft Fire Company.
Chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee Stan Billie and his committee
have been conducting annual
fire safety programs for local child care, kindergarten, and
elementary schools for many years.
They have been recognized for their
outstanding fire prevention program by
the Pennsylvania State Firemen's
Association at the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Annual Conventions.
Christopher N. Kangas Memorial
Junior Firefighter Award
The Christopher N.
Kangas Memorial Junior Firefighter Award is to recognize an outstanding
junior firefighter who is a member of a Fire Company or a Department in
Delaware County.
The 2008 recipient is Chenoa Reese of the Norwood Fire
Company.
She joined the fire company when she was sixteen.
Although small in size, she
was eager to learn and master the skills of firefighting from the start.
She has
become an inspiration to other young members and started
recruiting other young individuals to join the fire company.
Chenoa attends the Emergency and Protective Services
Program at the Delaware
County Technical School in Folcroft, located at the Emergency Services
Training
Center where she maintains an A average. As a student she was selected
to be
named to the Delaware County Intermediate Unit Board of
Directors.
The Harry Maitland
Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a member of the Delaware
County
Firemen's Association who has shown life long devotion, support, and
commitment to the Fire Service
of Delaware County in an outstanding manner. Any member in good standing
of the Association is eligible to be nominated by any individual member
or organization member in good standing for this award.
The 2008 recipient is
Fred Howell, Sr. of the Collingdale
Fire Company #1.
Fred joined the Collingdale #1 Fire Co. in 1947. Over his 60 years of
service he has
served as Assistant Engineer, 2nd Lieutenant, Captain, Board of Trustee
member,
and Relief Association Representative. He currently serves as Chairman
of the
Sick & Visiting Committee.
Fred is a Life Member of the Delaware County Firemen's Association and
currently serves as 4th District Director.
In addition to his dedication to the Fire Service, Fred served our
country in World War II. He is a living example of "The Greatest
Generation". He is a source
of information and inspiration. He embodies both the spirit of, and the
commitment to, volunteerism.
