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The annual “Fireman’s Appreciation
Supper” hosted by members of the Womens’ Division of the Chamber of
Commerce, was held Monday, February 5, at the Reunion Center at which
time members made a $500 donation to the fire department.
Womens’ Division members participating in
the supper included LaJoyce Johnson, president; Elsa Pacheco, vice
president; Betty Terrill, secretary; Ruby Park, treasurer; Merlene
Day, Amy Branter, Carla Landreth, Nancy Ralston, Billie Lightfoot,
Sharon Robinett, Claudia Stevens, Carla Landreth, GeorgeAnne Landreth,
Marion Landreth and Bertha Moreno.
After the meal, Fire Chief Doyle Rone
presented Joe Burnett a plaque designating him “Fireman of the Year”
and calling him “a good friend and a great fireman.” Burnett was
selected by a vote of his fellow firemen.
“Everybody in here deserves this,”
Burnett said, after accepting the plaque. “This is just wonderful.”
Rone also mentioned that this was the first annual dinner since the
death of Chief Clyde Brinson, in May of last year, and how he was
missed.
“And some of us who used to be the young
guys, aren’t the young guys anymore,” Rone said. “And now we’re fixing
to lose our assistant Chief (Cliff Babbitt). We’re not going to kill
him -- he’s just going to retire.”
Rone then spoke of the many years that
Babbitt had served with the fire department, saying that “he came on
for a second go round in March of 92.” Rone noted that Babbitt’s
oldest training certificate was from 1979.
“Clifford has not been an active
firefighter for a few years now,” Rone said, “but you can’t walk in
the door without seeing something that the man has done. He’s painted,
made fire trucks...and has donated more stuff than we’ve probably
bought. He will be missed. I want to thank him for a lot of years.” |
