Recipients of the firefighter of the year award
presented by the Brunswick Exchange Club.
(l to r) James Hopkins, Bobby
Putnam, Harold Spencer, Tim Redick, Chip Ward, and David Smith.
(Photo by: Candice Temple)
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BRUNSWICK- The Exchange Club of
Brunswick held a luncheon on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 to honor those selected as
Firefighters of the Year. A packed room of Exchange Club members, honorees and
guests recognized six firefighters from across Glynn County for excellence in
their field. Each firefighter was chosen at their division level by a vote of
their peers or similar process. The honorees were as follows:
Glynn County Fire Department
–Awards presented by Chief Al Thomas.
James Hopkins (Career Firefighter of the Year) – Mr. Hopkins started his career
in October 2003 as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with volunteer
firefighter background.
Bobby Putnam (Volunteer Firefighter of the Year) – Mr. Putnam started his career
in public safety in 1975, at age 16, as a dispatcher. He has also worked as a
law enforcement officer.
Brunswick Fire Department -
Awards presented by Chief Lee Stewart.
Harold Spencer (Career Firefighter of the Year) – Mr. Spencer is about a year
from retirement after over 25 years of service as a firefighter.
Jekyll Island Fire Department
- Awards presented by Chief Jason Richardson.
David Smith (Career Firefighter of the Year) – Mr. Smith has been the Fire
Safety Inspector for the Jekyll Island Fire Department since 1997. He began
working with the department part-time in 1980 and now has over 25 years of
service.
George “Chip” Ward (Volunteer Firefighter of the Year) – Mr. Ward was a founding
member of the Jekyll Island Fire Department and helped to write bylaws and a
charter for the department. He is a firefighter and EMT who takes pride in his
volunteer work. Prior to becoming a firefighter, Mr. Ward was a professor at
both Penn State and UGA.
Forestry Division – Awards
presented by Chief Ranger Mark McClellan
Tim Redick (Career Firefighter of the Year) – Mr. Redick has been with the
forestry division since 2005. He has worked firefighting efforts in Glynn and
surrounding counties.
Chief Al Thomas extended his thanks
to the Exchange Club for recognizing the county’s outstanding firefighters.
“We’d like to thank the Exchange Club
for taking time to recognize these individuals” said Chief Thomas. “So much of
the time what a firefighter does goes unrecognized and unseen by the community.”
The Exchange Club recognizes the
Firefighters of the Year every year during Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention
Week in Glynn County is October 7-13, 2007. The Glynn County Fire Department is
hosting an exhibition through Saturday, October 13 at the Glynn Place Mall.
Special guests will make appearances throughout the day on Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 9 p.m., including Fire Safety Clowns, an EMS demonstration and puppet shows.
For more information, please contact
the Glynn County Fire Department @ 912-554-7779 or Candice Temple @
912-554-7412.
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