Friday night the Columbia Fire Department held its inaugural end of year banquet at the Magnolia Grille.
The top award of the night, Fireman of the Year, was given to Chandler Moore and Zachary Peak. Rookie of the Year was awarded to Matthew Allen, and the Dressing Drill Award went to Chandler Moore, who was able to put on his turnout gear in 33.99 seconds. Hollie Berard received the Firefighter Wife of the Year.
Chief Jeff McKenzie awarded Capt. Nathan Guy and firefighters Zachary Peak, Matthew Allen and Zack Purvis the Life Saving Award for their work in saving a young boy stranded in a well in Bassfield.
Mayor Justin McKenzie and some of the Board of the Aldermen attended the banquet. The mayor welcomed everyone and commended the fire department on doing a great job.
Mike Lowery, store manager for Walmart, and Tammy Riley with Zellco were awarded certificates for their sponsorships of the fire department.
Motivational speaker Kendale C. Lumpkins was the guest speaker. He reminded the men and women about how they inspire others.
“Children grow up wanting to be like you,” he said.
He talked about how firefighters run toward danger, not away from it, and there is never a second thought about doing so.
Lumpkins reminded them in order to carry the blaze each firefighter has to take care of themselves first.
“Just like in the safety briefing on the airplane, you put the mask on yourself before anyone else,” he said.
Lumpkins told them they need to take ownership and pride in what they do. They make people’s lives better, he said.
He talked about the importance of teamwork and that it was not about who gets the credit but what is accomplished as a team. If a person was not on the team for the good, then he/she was really not on the team, he said.
He concluded stressing how a firefighter’s job is all about sacrifice. Sacrifice of time, service and more.
Door prizes donated by various businesses were given away, including a special draw-down among the firefighters only for a gun that was donated by Robbie Gill. The winner of the draw-down was Lt. Willie Stogner.
Pictured Above: Members attending the banquet include, front row, from left, Wade Creel, Matthew Allen, Lt. Willie Stogner, guest speaker Kendale C. Lumpkins, Assistant Chief Lyle Berard, Will Boyd, Chandler Moore and Capt. Nathan Guy. Second row includes Amy Stutson, Bobby Wells, Zachary Peak, Capt. Reggie Crowther, Chief Jeff McKenzie, James Givens and Steven Catoire. | Photo by Susan Amundson
