(Greensburg, IN) – Letts Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Kachur is the Greensburg Optimist Club’s Firefighter of the Year for 2026.
Kachur was presented the award at the club’s Thursday morning breakfast meeting held at the Greensburg Fire Department’s Larry Filler Station One on Barachel Lane.
He was nominated by Letts fire chief Matt Morrow, among others, for his more than 30 years of service as a firefighter, paramedic, leader, mentor, and Scout leader.
“I didn’t expect to be recognized. I’m very appreciative to everybody for giving me the opportunity to serve for a lot of years, and it just never occurred to me that I would be recognized for that,” Kachur said. “Firefighters in Decatur County do a lot, and to have all of my friends here to see this…it’s a good day.”
Kachur received the award from fellow Letts firefighter and Optimist Club Firefighter of the Year committee chairman Calvin Venable.
The Optimist Club also presented $200 checks to both the Letts and Greensburg fire departments – the latter in appreciation for hosting the meeting and cooking Thursday’s breakfast.
The late Merrill Smith and retired Greensburg Assistant Fire Chief Brian Wenning started the Greensburg Optimist Club Firefighter of the Year program in 1996 to honor a Decatur County firefighter each year for their public service, dedication and spirit of optimism.
Past recipients are listed below:
- 1996 Don Minning, Greensburg
- 1997 Carl Geis, Clarksburg
- 1998 Ken Ramer, Greensburg
- 1999 Brian Wenning, Greensburg
- 2000 David Israel, Burney
- 2001 All Decatur County Fire Chiefs/Firefighters
- 2002 Mike Gasper, Westport
- 2003 Rand Hooten, Burney
- 2004 Scott Chasteen, Greensburg
- 2005 Bert Baltus (posthumously), Letts
- 2006 Bill Smith, Clarksburg
- 2007 Gary Wolford, New Point
- 2008 Andy Witkemper, Millhousen
- 2009 Jay Mattox, Westport
- 2010 Rick Bullard, St. Paul
- 2011 All Decatur County Fire Chiefs/Firefighters
- 2012 Rick Emsweller, Greensburg
- 2013 Brad Speer, Clarksburg
- 2014 Steve Garrett, Greensburg
- 2015 Randy Carson, Westport
- 2016 Carl Geis, Clarksburg
- 2017 Byron Baltus, Letts
- 2018 Rick Johnson, Clarksburg
- 2019 Randy & Marilyn Hoeing, Greensburg
- 2020 Matt Stone, Millhousen
- 2021 All Decatur County Fire Chiefs/Firefighters
- 2022 Chris Springmeyer, Greensburg
- 2023 Curtis Lewis, Greensburg
- 2024 Calvin Venable, Letts
- 2025 Stone Brothers, Millhousen
