Firefighters honored at banquet

Ten firefighters representing six different volunteer units were singled out for special recognition at the annual awards banquet of the Morgan County Association of Volunteer Firefighters on April 17. The event was held at Fairview Church of God in Falkville with representatives of Morgan County’s 22 volunteer fire departments in attendance.
Capt. Kim Owens of Trinity received an Award of Valor for rescuing another woman from a burning house on Nov. 30, 2009.
Donna Gentry was trapped inside her smoke-filled house and was calling out for help when she was overheard by Owens, a member of the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department. Owens responded immediately by entering the burning house, locating Mrs. Gentry in her wheelchair and pushing her to safety.
Brindley Mountain VFD had three of its members receive awards. Troy Glass was honored as Male EMT of the Year, Derrick Marion received the Rookie of the Year Award and Tommy McPherson was named winner of the Boyce Walker Community Service Award.
Recognized as award winners from Lacey’s Spring VFD were Jimmy Kent, Male Firefighter of the Year and Anita Abbett, Female Firefighter of the Year.
Bethel/Gum Pond VFD also had two winners. They were Deborah Caudle, Female EMT of the Year and Jordan Caudle, winner of the Robert J. Miller Jr. Youth Leadership Award.
Other award winners were Chris Free of Falkville, Fire Chief of the Year; Falkville VFD, Most Improved Department of the Year; and Danville VFD, Department of the Year.
Two deceased volunteer firemen were honored as “Fallen Heroes.” They were Dewayne Smith, a former member of the Ebenezer VFD who served as association president from 1985 to 1992, and Lamar Brown, a former member of the Punkin Center VFD.
Wayne Murray of Scottsboro, North Alabama regional coordinator for the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa, was guest speaker.